Jessica O'ConnorGMB Union has issued a response to the US-UK tariff deal announced yesterday, expressing cautious optimism about potential benefits for workers in key export sectors including whisky and automotive industries.
The trade union, which represents thousands of workers across various industries, indicated that the removal of tariffs on UK exports to the US market could provide relief to sectors that have faced trade barriers, though it awaits further details of the agreement.
Andy Prendergast, GMB national secretary, said: “It is difficult to judge the impact of the trade deal without seeing the small print, but action on tariffs from our exports to the US has to be welcome news.
“GMB members in the whisky and automotive sectors were being unjustly targeted, so progress here will be positively received, if the deal delivers what is suggested.
“We will look closely at what has been negotiated away to get the agreement and the effect on key industries.”
The union indicated it will scrutinise the details of the agreement to understand any potential trade-offs that might have been made during negotiations and assess the broader implications for UK manufacturing and export industries where its members work.
