Britain classifies trade documents as “secret” to avoid escalating Trump's tariff tensions
Business Affairs learned that British officials have begun classifying sensitive trade documents as “secrets” and “highest secrets” to allow key information from American counterparts to mask key information because of the relationship between London and the Washington strain under President Trump's tariff war.
The move marks a major shift in the internal government agreement, highlighting concerns about potential misuse or interception of UK economic data during trade discussions with the United States. Sources confirmed that the latest guidance has been issued between departments negotiating post-Brexit trade relations and stricter regulations on digital sharing and document access, especially with sensitive sectors such as automobiles and pharmaceuticals.
The shift is as Trump's White House continues to impose tariffs on trading partners, as Trump's White House continues to make up for global markets. All UK exports to the United States were subject to 10% tariffs and a punitive 25% on cars and steel, prompting Whitehall's uneasiness to become increasingly uneasy.
The transparency during negotiations with the Biden administration was significantly different, and the UK's Department of Commerce and Trade has improved the classification of many documents. Previously labeled “official-sensitive (British eyes only)”, many are now subject to restrictions commonly used in advanced safety materials.
“Reclassification is not about disconnecting from the United States, but reflects the volatility and unpredictability of current U.S. policies under Trump. As the industry is exposed to retaliatory tariffs, ministers and officials are cautious about who sees what they see.”
Despite this, Downing Street avoided direct confrontation. Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to retaliate against Trump's trade practices, instead offering discounts in areas such as digital taxes and agricultural standards, while continuing to prioritize long-term trade agreements with the United States.
To stabilize tensions, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that it is still possible to reach a “huge deal” and praised the cultural consistency between the two countries. “We certainly work with Keir Starmer's administration,” Vance said. “There is a real cultural affinity.”
Behind the scenes, however, many British policymakers and business leaders are concerned about the broad implications of Trump’s “America First” strategy. The reclassification of trade documents is part of a broader security, where large British multinationals, especially pharmaceutical companies, recommend stricter communication protocols when interacting with government departments.
These developments reflect broader international concerns. The Brussels report shows that the European Commission has begun sending burner phone calls to staff visiting the U.S. and reconsider its document handling policy to avoid U.S. surveillance.
Although Britain and the United States have traditionally enjoyed close ties – especially in defense and intelligence, shared materials are often labeled as “UK/US only” or classified under the “Five Eyes” alliance – trade policies now seem to differ from this intimacy.
Trump's aggressive tariff strategy is seen as a key sector of the reindustrial U.S. economy, including automotive and pharmaceutical manufacturing, often at the expense of long-term allies. He defended these moves, acknowledging the “transition costs” but insisted that it was necessary for national renewal.
Meanwhile, the radiation continues. U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods have soared to 145%, prompting Beijing's retaliatory tariffs as high as 125%. China warned that it could resort to alternative countermeasures and urged the EU to boycott what it called Trump's “bullying.”
Britain continues to face tariffs on core exports, despite Trump's recent agreement to postpone further tariffs on certain countries within 90 days. Uncertainty also leads to instability in global financial markets, raising questions about the long-term feasibility of traditional alliances in a changing trade environment.
As Starmer's government took a rope between diplomacy and national interests, the reclassification of trade documents marked a new era in Britain's handling of sensitive negotiations, indicating no more trust, even allies.
