Tariffs to be dropped on imports of US manufactured nail products

From June 1 2022, the United States will end tariffs on American manufactured manicure and pedicure products to the UK. At present, the tariff imposed is 25%, which has had a significant impact on the sales and profitability of UK beauty businesses who import and also resell American manufactured nail products.

The rollback of the tariffs marks the end of a long-standing dispute between the United Kingdom and the United States. It was in March 2018 that then US president, Donald Trump, announced tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act 1962, in the name of national security.

This saw tax on the importation of a number of UK goods, including steel and aluminium, as well as the exportation of certain personal care items including manicure and pedicure products. In response, the United Kingdom put in place extra tariffs on certain US goods, such as whiskey and blue jeans.

On March 22 2022, the United States announced plans to remove its Section 232 tariffs. This led to the UK confirming that it will suspend its retaliatory tariffs, with the government stating that it plans to work closely with the US to ‘address the wider issue of global steel excess capacity and market-distorting practices.’