April the 30th 2025 marked the 100th day of Donald Trump’s second term as President of the United States. To say it has been turbulent would be an understatement. Over the past few months, Trump has imposed a lengthy list of tariffs globally, kicking off an international trade war that is having wide-reaching implications for a multitude of industries.
The UK’s economy hasn’t been immune to Trump’s foreign policies, even though British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Trump recently came to an agreement on trade and tariffs. If your business is particularly reliant on imports or exports — such as manufacturing — you may have already felt the impact of recent events.
It may have underlined your need to reduce costs and ensure cash flow is stable. Sage software is designed to boost efficiency across your key financial processes and could be pivotal in protecting your business from short-term instability.
Read on to learn about all the major developments in Trump’s ongoing trade war and how Sage software could help you navigate any problems that arise as a consequence.
Trump’s scattergun foreign policy has raised costs and put pressure on UK businesses
The global economy is incredibly interconnected and so major moves from a trading partner as large as the United States can have far-reaching implications. For example, Trump’s decision to impose a high tariff on one nation may end up setting off a domino effect across the global supply chain ecosystem.
The ongoing trade war has also brought major global ports to a near standstill with the Guardian reporting that container ship movement at the Port of Los Angeles (the US’s busiest port) is down by almost a third year-on-year. Meanwhile, Business Matters reports that major European ports across the UK, Spain, and Holland have become increasingly congested with ships being redirected or docked long term due to ongoing uncertainty.
The UK has felt the pressure produced by the ongoing instability, especially as the US made up £58 billion in British exports in 2024. Luckily, Trump and Starmer came to an agreement in early May, which has reduced some respective tariffs.
The Guardian cites Trump’s tariffs as the reason for UK manufacturing’s biggest slump in export orders in five years.
If your business has been affected by the global trade uncertainty, and you’re concerned about its impact on your bottom line, cash flow, and overall costs, then Sage software could offer you a useful solution.
Sage software is designed to boost efficiency and ensure you make the most out of every penny spent and gained — so you’re better protected from macroeconomic instability
Fear is a powerful emotion and could prompt you to make knee-jerk decisions during times of financial uncertainty. It’s a point made by OnBuy’s CEO, Cas Paton, in a recent interview with Raconteur detailing the effects of the Trump tariffs on UK business.
In their words: “You need to get off the hamster wheel and take some time to step back and plan”. Paton recommends taking a break from business as usual and avoid instinctively reacting to current events, instead choosing to:
- Focus on reviewing your supply chains and chosen suppliers
- Examine your current financial model and whether there are areas to offset costs
- Plan for the medium- and long-term effects on your business and consumers caused by current events
- Build a safety net to protect against further short-term instability.
Adopting Sage software could be the key to achieving these goals.
Sage 50, Sage 200, and Sage Intacct offer a wide range of financial tools for businesses of differing sizes and needs. There are also specialised versions for key industries, such as Sage for Construction, and Sage add-ons, like Cim50 and Cim200, that are designed for manufacturers.
Sage products have core modules that are designed to help boost your:
Visibility and control through clearer oversight of your financials
Efficiency through streamlined processes and automation
Profits by eliminating unnecessary costs, reducing errors, and optimising your expenses
Planning and forecasting, so you have a strong financial picture of the weeks, months, and years ahead.
Switching to a Sage platform, could allow you to implement changes to key processes that help you ensure your cash flow remains strong and stable over the coming months, despite external financial pressures. This might involve utilising:
- Cashflow forecasting
- Accounts Receivable (AR) and Accounts Payable (AP) management functions
- Real-time data, reporting, and analytics
- Automation, so that banking, invoicing, and payment tracking is processed as efficiently as possible.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Sage software could help your business gain more control over its financial processes, and potentially boost its bottom line, you should consider getting in touch.
It’s likely Trump will continue to make decisions that affect global trade markets over the next few years. Taking steps to proactively protect your business from the worst effects by optimising your financial processes could be the move that sets you apart from the competition.
We’re here to provide software solutions to your financial headaches — get in touch today!
At Solutions, we’re here to help you and your business tackle financial issues by ensuring you have the right accounting software to rely on. So, you have the tools necessary to maximise your company’s productivity and keep the cash flowing smoothly.
Get in touch with one of our experts by emailing enquiries@solutionscloud.uk or calling 0115 840 5075 to discuss which of our core products might be the best fit for your firm’s goals and needs.
Remember: Don’t let short-term fears skew your judgment. Ensure you have the right support and tools needed to make calm and informed financial decisions for your business.
