Britain and the United States trade hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of goods and services annually, but London hopes that ambiguities in the data will help to earn it an exclusion from U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff plans.

After announcing levies on imports from Canada, Mexico and China, the president has hinted at expanding the meaures.

"Whitehall is watching anxiously," said The Telegraph, even though UK ministers are hoping that "a good dose of charm and sweet talk can keep British companies out of the firing l

Donald Trump has been unclear about whether he will impose tariffs on the UK but economists warn there are still ways Britain could be negatively affected by the president's wider trade policies even if it avoids being hit directly.

Donald Trump described the UK as "way out of line" but hinted that it could be spared tariffs as he warned he would impose them on the European Union “soon.” The US president has already announced he will impose 25 per cent trade taxes on goods coming from America’s nearest neighbours and largest trade partners – Canada and Mexico – as well as a 10 per cent levy on Chinese goods.