British Chambers call on Government to urgently prioritise UK's economic security

THE British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging Government to prioritise the UK’s economic security, after 10 years of geopolitical shocks have repeatedly damaged growth.
Businesses in the UK have been left permanently bruised by the Pandemic, Brexit, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, supply chain chaos and US tariffs.
The BCC’s new report, Delivering Growth: Resilient Global Supply Chains, sets out urgent steps needed to secure vital manufacturing inputs and stop British competitiveness declining in an increasingly unstable world.
It says the Prime Minister must take cross-government responsibility for protecting the UK economy from external crises after years of neglect by successive governments.
Among the actions it is calling for are:
• The creation of a ‘trade bazooka’ to allow the UK to deter economic coercion, by responding decisively to hostile trade actions.
• Taking a robust approach to the EU’s Made In Europe agenda to guarantee the role of UK businesses in wider European supply chains.
• Making the UK’s national security a defining priority for the economy over the next decade and involving more British businesses in the defence sector.
The report argues that keeping the UK’s position as a major trading nation depends on secure access to key inputs such as energy, steel, semiconductors and growth minerals. Demand for some materials is set to rise massively over the next decade, and domestic production cannot meet future needs.
More than 75% of UK manufacturing exports begin with imports, underlining how exposed businesses are to disruption in global supply chains. The UK is also a highly trade intensive economy, with imports and exports together accounting for over 60% of GDP.
But demand pressures are rising rapidly. By 2035, UK requirements for critical minerals are forecast to increase sharply, driven by growth in electric vehicles, clean energy and advanced manufacturing. These include a rise of over 13,000% in lithium demand and a 1,928% increase for copper.
New steel quotas and duties are also due in July 2026, alongside global steel overproduction estimated at 640–680 million tonnes, threatening cost pressures for manufacturers and construction firms.
Meanwhile ongoing disruption – from wars and tariffs to industrial subsidies and economic coercion – is becoming the norm rather than the exception.
The BCC is calling for the creation of a new Economic Security Cabinet Committee chaired by the Prime Minister to coordinate policy making across government on issues from tariffs to critical imports.
Without these smarter tools, deeper international partnerships and clearer leadership from the centre, the UK risks falling behind competitors who are moving faster to protect their supply chains.
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Over the past decade, British businesses have weathered some of the toughest economic shocks we’ve faced in the past 100 years. Through sheer resilience and ingenuity, they have kept trading in an increasingly unpredictable global environment.
“But it’s clear that this is not enough. The UK’s inadequate economic security has become a drag on growth, competitiveness and national strength; yet it is still not given the focus and urgency it demands.
“The wars in Ukraine and Iran have demonstrated how supply chains can be disrupted overnight. We now live in a world where trade interests may be weaponised, and where failing to secure key raw materials means failing to grow.
“The UK’s defence industry must also be made a priority. The Russian threat on our doorstep is not going to suddenly fade and the US now has other priorities. By improving our national security, we bolster our economic security as well, but those benefits must be felt more widely by our smaller firms.
“This report sets out practical, achievable steps to protect the foundations of our economy – from steel and semiconductors to defence and clean energy.
“The message from business is clear: delay is a luxury the UK can’t afford. The Prime Minister must act now, match the pace of our competitors, and put economic security at the heart of our national growth strategy.”