Concerns are growing the UK could be more exposed to US trade taxes after President Donald Trump announced he would target VAT in his latest move.
Trump has instructed his staff to develop custom so-called "reciprocal tariffs" for individual countries based in part on trading agreements, including imports and exports, with the US.
The UK's trading relationship with US had suggested it would be less exposed to tariffs than others, but the surprise inclusion of VAT to calculate potential tariffs has prompted questions over the impact on British businesses.
Analysts have suggested tariffs of 20% or more could be placed on the UK as well as the European Union, but the outcome remains uncertain.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) business group warned that cars, pharmaceuticals, and food and drink were specific goods which could be "significantly hit" by the measures, which were announced by the White House on Thursday.
The latest announcement by Trump administration was wide-ranging and threatened retaliation by the US for not just trade tariffs, but for other "unfair or harmful acts, policies or practices".
One of the justifications Trump has given to date for imposing tariffs on countries is whether they have a trade surplus with the US - i.e. they sell more to the US than they import from the country.
The use of tariffs is part of Trump's efforts to protect American businesses and boost manufacturing.