LONDON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The recent increase in U.S. tariffs marks a worrying shift from economic cooperation to geopolitical positioning, sending "a message that market logic is now second to political calculus," according to Jack Perry, chairman of The 48 Group in Britain.
"This approach introduces volatility into a system that thrives on predictability," Perry said in a recent written interview with Xinhua.
He noted that tariffs, once used as calibrated levers, are now becoming blunt instruments of foreign policy, warning that this shift undermines the rules-based system that has underpinned global trade for decades, replacing stability with uncertainty.
"For the global trading community, it raises the question: If rules can be rewritten overnight, how do businesses make decisions that require five-to-10-year horizons?" he asked. "In global markets, uncertainty is the most expensive commodity of all."
Perry, who is also the CEO of London Export Corporation, voiced concern over the duplication of supply chains in response to protectionist trends. "When countries begin to build parallel supply chains, efficiency is lost. Costs go up, speed goes down, and the trust that keeps trade flowing evaporates," he said.
When asked whether tariff escalation could become a long-term norm, Perry said reversal is always possible, but requires both political will and commercial realism. "History tells us that protectionism is seductive but self-defeating. In the short term, it looks like strength. In the long term, it weakens the very foundations of economic growth."
"What reverses these cycles isn't idealism, but pressure from the ground up: from businesses, consumers, and industries that cannot function under prolonged fragmentation," said Perry.
On the impact on the British trade and economy, Perry urged a "balanced engagement."
"The U.S. remains a critical partner, but increasingly a cautious one. China remains a vital trading counterpart, not just in volume but in sectors that matter: energy transition, infrastructure, AI, and high-end manufacturing," he said, stressing that Britain must "avoid being pulled too far in either direction."
In the current geopolitical climate, Perry said what Britain can do is act as a connector, offering neutrality and helping de-risk global business engagement. "We are in a position to design frameworks, mediate standards, and build business environments that others want to operate in."
Contrary to some public perceptions of disengagement, Perry said interest in China among British businesses has deepened. "British companies are no longer asking 'Should we look at China?' They are asking, 'How do we build there in a way that lasts?'"
Looking ahead, he said that the 48 Group will lead a high-level delegation to visit Beijing, Shandong and Zhejiang in May to engage in trade discussions. "This isn't a symbolic visit. It's a mission designed to build trade, not just talk about it," he said.
"We are here to do business, and we are here to accelerate cooperation in smart and structured ways," Perry added. ■
