Brits are being warned to stockpile tinned food as soon as possible for not one, but two distinct reasons. At this moment in time, economic turmoil of a global scale has been triggered by Donald Trump’s tariffs. The US President sparked off an international trade spat with pretty much every country – China, the EU, UK and Ukraine – by slapping tariffs on their exports to the States.
Even though the President has recently relented somewhat on his tariff war with a temporary ’90-day pause’, the UK is still seeing a 10% levy on imports, and steel and aluminium haven’t gotten off lightly either – a hefty 25% tariff on UK exports to the US, potentially hiking up the price of tinned food on British shelves in the near future.
Industry bodies like UK Steel are raised the alarm bell about what this might do to British consumers and the wider economy. Should UK steel giants witness a nosedive in sales in the UK, they might raise prices elsewhere to make ends meet, reports the Express.
Gareth Stace, director general of industry body UK Steel, said the tariffs are “deeply concerning” and could cost the UK £100m a year. Particularly vulnerable British-made items packing aluminium – that’s fizzy drink cans, tinned food and even the humble kitchen foil – could see price tags inflating.
That looming threat might just push shoppers to hoard their goods by stockpiling before costs soar.
The Independent reports that: “The tariffs raise a flat duty on steel and aluminium entering America to 25 per cent. This could affect UK products worth hundreds of millions of pounds as products like cars, cans and tin foil are likely to become more expensive.”
However, it’s not just the tariffs that should have Brits rushing to stockpile their tinned beans and soup. There’s another crucial reason.
According to the UK’s official Prepare website, British families need to be geared up for future emergencies, with a checklist of essential items ready at home.
This list from the Prepare website includes practical items like batteries, power sources, radios, bottled water, and, importantly, tinned goods.
The Government’s advice states: “Emergencies happen every day in the UK and across the world. They can be caused by severe weather or other natural hazards, by deliberate actions, or as a result of accidents or infrastructure failure.
“They can be events that happen quickly and are over in a few hours, or they can develop and continue over the course of several days, months, or sometimes even longer.
“Put together an emergency kit of items at home. This could include: Non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking, such as ready-to-eat tinned meat, fruit or vegetables (and a tin opener).
“As with water, how much you need will vary based on your own circumstances. Don’t forget food for pets.”
The guidance suggests that families should gather their emergency stockpile bit by bit, instead of a last-minute dash, saying: “Rather than buying all the items at once, you could just add to your emergency kit when you are able and build it up over time.”
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