UK food and drink manufacturers are losing market share to global competitors, with industry data showing a sharp fall in exports.
The decline is being driven by a combination of new US tariffs and persistent trade friction stemming from Brexit, which has eroded the sector's competitive position in key markets.
The export slump arrives as the UK is now running a trade deficit with its largest trading partner, the United States.
This structural shift highlights the growing vulnerability of British exporters to policy changes across the Atlantic, particularly in sectors that previously relied on frictionless access to the US market.
The downturn in trade flows coincides with broader economic weakness.
The UK economy has contracted, reversing earlier expansion as the ongoing Iran conflict increasingly drags on domestic business output.