Business

UAE’s World’s Safest Country Ranking Creates ‘Safety Premium’ in Real Estate Market, Reports NOVVI Properties

As the United Arab Emirates is named the world’s safest country in mid-2025, Dubai-based real estate leader NOVVI Properties reports that this top-tier security status has become a primary driver of the nation’s booming property market.

The designation is creating a tangible “safety premium,” attracting a wave of global investors and residents who prioritize security alongside financial returns, fueling record-breaking transactions and boosting investor confidence.

The UAE’s reputation for safety and stability is directly translating into a robust and resilient real estate sector. In the first half of 2025, Dubai recorded over Dh431 billion in property transactions, a 25% increase year-on-year, with more than 59,000 new investors entering the market.According to NOVVI Properties, this surge is intrinsically linked to the nation’s secure environment.

“We are witnessing a fundamental shift in investor priorities. Safety is no longer a secondary benefit; it is a primary asset class,” said Jason Farr, Sales Director at NOVVI Properties.”Global investors and high-net-worth individuals are seeking safe havens for both their families and their capital. The UAE’s consistent high ranking in global safety indices provides an unparalleled level of assurance, making real estate here one of the most attractive and secure investments worldwide.”

This investor confidence is bolstered by a strong, transparent regulatory framework overseen by entities like the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). The mandatory use of escrow accounts for off-plan projects ensures that investor funds are protected, minimizing risk and fostering a climate of trust.

The impact extends across all segments of the market. While luxury properties continue to attract significant attention, the sense of security is also encouraging families and professionals to set down long-term roots, driving demand for villas and apartments in established and emerging suburban communities.

“The feeling of security is a powerful catalyst for the residential market,” notes Brian Flanagan, Head of Leasing at NOVVI Properties. “Clients are not just buying a property; they are investing in a lifestyle defined by peace of mind. This confidence is expanding the market’s geographic footprint, with significant growth now seen not just in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but across all seven emirates, including hotspots in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.”

As the UAE continues to build on its reputation for safety, stability, and economic diversification, NOVVI Properties forecasts that the real estate market will maintain its strong upward trajectory, cementing its status as a premier global destination for secure and profitable property investment.

About NOVVI Properties

NOVVI Properties was founded to transform Dubai’s real estate market by prioritizing trust, integrity, and client relationships. In a market often focused on transactions, NOVVI offers a 360-degree suite of services, providing transparency, innovative marketing, and unwavering commitment to every client. Believing that real estate is a journey, not just a transaction, NOVVI is dedicated to guiding clients to spaces that embody their dreams and goals, whether they are first-time buyers, seasoned investors, or businesses seeking the perfect commercial location.

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UAE’s World’s Safest Country Ranking Creates ‘Safety Premium’ in Real Estate Market

A gentle sigh, a cup of tea cooling beside the keyboard, and one big question: could an online space still feel warm after all these years?

That moment of hesitation is familiar to anyone returning to, or entering, digital dating. SameAgeDates positions itself as a calm alternative, framing every exchange as a chance to feel noticed rather than hurried along a carousel of profiles. Below you will find a detailed SameAgeDates review, its strengths, and the areas that may still need attention.

Halfway through these opening thoughts, it’s worth noting that exploring the platform is simple. The sign‑up page for SameAgeDates loads quickly, and no intrusive pop‑ups interrupt your focus. The first three minutes feel intentionally unrushed, a tone that carries through the rest of your journey.

What Is SameAgeDates – Core Philosophy and Culture

The question “What is SameAgeDates?” might be answered in one sentence: a presence‑first environment where thoughtful messaging matters. Yet the background deserves a closer look:

Purpose‑led design: The interface avoids timer‑based mechanics, encouraging you to reply when inspiration strikes.
Emotional renewal: Profile prompts invite reflections such as “What personal discovery makes you smile lately?” These cues build a climate where deeper conversation may flourish.
Respect by default: Each account undergoes email confirmation before gaining full functionality—an unobtrusive measure that filters most automated sign‑ups.

By weaving these principles into its layout and policies, SameAgeDates sketches a clear vision: slower pace, richer words, fewer distractions.

Onboarding Journey and Interface

Most newcomers move through these steps in under ten minutes, although personal pacing varies. By favoring clarity over clutter, SameAgeDates gives fresh members room to breathe before they reach out.

Key SameAgeDates Features —Expanded Walk‑Through

Below is a text‑based tour of the most influential elements, each accompanied by practical notes.

Newsfeed Posting and Browsing

The newsfeed behaves much like a minimalist social wall. Upload one image, write a caption, and decide whether comments are open. Posts stay visible indefinitely, encouraging longer reflections rather than fleeting stories. Observers can mark posts with Likes or gentle Winks—both actions free of charge—while private responses slip naturally into the message inbox.

People Carousel

Where many services present endless swipes, SameAgeDates offers a paced carousel with three precise gestures: Like, Wink, and Save. A Like signals interest, a Wink sends a playful nudge (limited to one per recipient to avoid overuse), and Save adds the profile to a personal shortlist. Premium subscribers may review an extended history of who Saved them, giving extra insight before initiating dialogue.

Privacy Controls

Privacy sits near the top of the settings panel. A permanent delete option triggers an automated 48‑hour purge of personal data. Because search engines do not index profile pages, embarrassing surprises in public search results remain unlikely.

Messaging Limits and Premium Upgrades

Members who upgrade unlock unlimited initiations and animated sticker packs. Transactions require payment confirmation.

Advanced Search Filters

A compact menu lets members refine explorations by age range, location, and online status. Saving a favorite filter group is as easy as tapping a heart icon.

Round‑the‑Clock Support

A floating help widget opens to a searchable knowledge base and, during peak hours, a live conversation window. After‑hours inquiries convert to email tickets. Median reply time hovers around six hours on weekdays. This cadence, together with an informative support blog, provides reassurance for those wondering, “is SameAgeDates legit.”

Safety, Privacy, and Support: Is SameAgeDates Legit?

Users often ask, is SameAgeDates legit? Technical safeguards provide grounded reassurance. All data travels through encryption and is stored with secure standards. Public search engines cannot index profile information, so private moments remain out of casual reach. The content policy bars spam and explicit imagery and relies on both automated scanning and human review to enforce guidelines.

Finally, the SameAgeDates help desk operates around the clock via live widgets during peak periods and a monitored email queue after hours, with median response times hovering under half a day.

A Typical First Week on SameAgeDates

Day 1 often finishes with a polished profile and two thoughtful messages. By Day 2, a scenic photo in the newsfeed can seed multiple comment threads. Mid‑week, users experiment with Winks. On the weekend, many evaluate whether premium messaging aligns with personal engagement levels. This gradual rhythm exemplifies the platform’s presence‑driven DNA.

Expert Tips for Maximizing Usage of  SameAgeDates

Complete the “About” field early: Fully completed SameAgeDates profiles receive more first messages.
Use Save list: Build a queue before starting conversations; avoids impulse messaging.
Revisit Newsfeed weekly: Fresh posts gain algorithmic prominence, potentially boosting reach.

Final Thoughts

In a world of fast swipes and quick replies, SameAgeDates offers something slower and more thoughtful. It doesn’t promise instant sparks, but it might give you the space to feel seen and heard in a way that matters. If you’re looking for conversations that unfold at a natural pace and don’t mind using a mobile browser, this platform could be a quiet place to start something meaningful, one message at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SameAgeDates in one sentence?

SameAgeDates is an online dating platform created for those who want to explore connections with presence, warmth, and a sense of emotional renewal.

How does SameAgeDates deal with unwanted content?

Human intervention in content moderation to remove inappropriate content.

Is SameAgeDates safe to use?

Encryption standards, non‑indexed profiles, strict content policies, and round‑the‑clock support collectively create a security posture that may feel reassuring to many users.

This article has been sponsored by SameAgeDates. This article does not provide professional advice and should not be used to diagnose any conditions.

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What Is SameAgeDates? A Closer Look at Presence‑Driven Dating

Four Cymru has announced a strategic partnership with Wales Tech Week 2025, the country’s leading international tech summit, to champion Welsh innovation, talent and ambition on the world stage.

Taking place from 24–26 November 2025 at the ICC Wales in Newport, the event will bring together technology pioneers, investors, policymakers and industry leaders from across the globe to connect, collaborate and do business.

Organised by Technology Connected, Wales Tech Week positions the nation as a global hub for emerging technologies, highlighting how digital innovation is transforming industries—from energy and manufacturing to finance and professional services.

The 2025 summit will spotlight how businesses of all sizes can adopt technology to improve performance, boost sustainability, and stay competitive. It also aims to break down barriers for sectors at different stages of digital adoption, opening new opportunities across the economy.

As part of the international Four Agency Group, Four Cymru will lead on strategic communications, brand storytelling and audience engagement to maximise the summit’s visibility and global impact. With offices in Cardiff, Aberystwyth, London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, Four brings a powerful platform to showcase Wales’s growing tech ecosystem on an international scale.

Nan Williams, group chief executive of Four and a proud Welsh speaker from North Wales, expressed her excitement about the collaboration: “Wales Tech Week showcases the very best of Wales on the world stage. Cymru is building a special place in the international technology ecosystem—small enough to be connected, ambitious enough to deliver worldwide innovation, and with the hardworking ‘DNA’ to build the future as we built the past.”

“At Wales Tech Week you can experience the innovation, talent and ambition that make Wales a rising force in global tech. From world-firsts in compound semiconductors to cutting-edge cybersecurity, this is where international opportunity meets Welsh ingenuity.”

Through its Difference Makers initiative, Four has previously recognised figures such as Avril Lewis, managing director of Technology Connected, for their contributions to tech and innovation. The firm will play a pivotal role in ensuring the voices and insights of global tech leaders are heard far beyond the event.

Avril Lewis welcomed the partnership: “We’re thrilled to have Four Cymru on board for Wales Tech Week 2025. Their expertise in strategic communications and international reach will be invaluable in helping us tell the story of Welsh innovation to the world. This partnership strengthens our mission to position Wales as a global leader in technology and innovation.”

Wales Tech Week 2025 is set to be a landmark event in the UK tech calendar, uniting entrepreneurs, investors, academics and government to explore the future of digital innovation and its impact on business, society and the economy.

The event will be free to attend and centred around three core themes:

Tech for People
Tech for the Planet
Tech for Performance

To find out more or to register your interest, visit www.walestechweek.com.

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Four Cymru partners with Wales Tech Week to showcase Welsh innovation on the global stage

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing renewed pressure to impose VAT on private healthcare, with former Labour leader Lord Neil Kinnock calling for the move as a means of raising billions in extra funding for the NHS.

With Labour’s autumn Budget on the horizon and mounting fiscal pressures following recent U-turns on welfare reform and winter fuel payments, Kinnock has urged the government to remove the VAT exemption currently enjoyed by private healthcare providers.

“Introducing VAT on private health provision could provide vital funding for the NHS and social care,” Kinnock said. “Ending the VAT exemption to generate much-needed revenue is a reasonable and widely-supported step.”

Analysis by the Good Growth Foundation, a think tank with close ties to Labour, suggests that charging the standard 20% VAT on private acute healthcare—excluding services provided to the NHS—could raise over £2 billion annually.

Polling conducted by the foundation in June found that 55% of UK adults supported a windfall tax on private healthcare firms, with strong backing for more progressive taxation to fund NHS services.

“We have sleepwalked into a two-tier healthcare system,” said Praful Nargund, director of the Good Growth Foundation and a former Labour parliamentary candidate. “People are being forced to go private for care they should get for free. That’s not a system in need of tweaks—it’s a system on the brink and in need of major reform.”

The proposal follows Labour’s swift move earlier this year to end VAT exemption on private school fees, a manifesto pledge projected to raise around £1.6 billion.

Labour has promised not to increase income tax, National Insurance or VAT for “working people”, but applying VAT to previously exempt sectors—such as private healthcare—could be framed as closing a loophole rather than breaking a pledge.

That political nuance may appeal to Reeves, who needs to plug an estimated £30 billion fiscal shortfall while maintaining public service spending and avoiding widespread backlash from middle-income voters.

Lord Kinnock argued that taxing private care would address rising inequality in access to treatment, as many patients now resort to paying privately due to long NHS wait times.

“After 14 years of underinvestment, many people are turning to private healthcare not out of choice, but because they cannot afford to wait,” he said. “This has increasingly led to unequal access to care.”

Kinnock’s VAT proposal comes shortly after he also called for a wealth tax on individuals with assets over £10 million. His plan for a 2% annual levy on the ultra-wealthy could raise up to £11 billion a year, he claimed, and would enjoy the support of a “great majority of the general public”.

While no such measures were included in Labour’s election manifesto, pressure is growing from within the party’s own ranks and affiliated think tanks to adopt bolder tax policy as a route to rebuild public services.

The Conservative Party has condemned both the wealth tax and the proposed VAT on private healthcare, warning that such policies risk driving investment out of Britain.

“Taxing those who create jobs and invest in the UK is the worst thing to do when growth is needed most,” a senior Tory source said. “It sends the wrong signal and risks pushing capital abroad.”

However, with NHS waiting lists still above 7.5 million and pressure on health and social care mounting, Labour is likely to face growing calls to take bold, revenue-generating steps in its first Budget this autumn.

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Rachel Reeves urged to apply VAT to private healthcare in bid to fund NHS

More than 125 top business leaders from across the UK have written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves urging the government to introduce a tax relief scheme to support companies that invest in training young people not in employment, education or training (Neets).

Senior executives from companies including Toyota, JCB, and leading manufacturers signed the open letter, warning that without urgent action, Britain faces the risk of “confining a generation to the scrapheap”.

The number of 16–24-year-olds in the UK classed as Neets hit 923,000 at the end of March 2024, according to official figures. Business leaders say targeted support is needed to tackle the country’s youth worklessness crisis and to make training more viable for employers already facing rising costs.

“A direct and accessible skills tax relief would act as a fiscal incentive, enabling businesses to invest in training young people,” the letter states.

They propose the relief could help cover costs of accredited training programmes, including apprenticeships, vocational courses, and skills bootcamps—all of which are seen as vital in reducing youth inactivity and bridging the UK’s growing skills gap.

Georgiana Bristol, chief executive of the Jobs Foundation, said the current cost burden on firms was preventing them from offering training to young people, despite widespread willingness to do so.

“We are not short of young people with ambition. We are short of clear routes into real work,” she said. “A skills tax relief could give businesses the tools to offer that hope.”

Christopher Nieper, clothing manufacturer and co-author of the letter, said the cost of Neet-related inactivity—both in lost productivity and welfare spending—was now “unsustainable”.

The Centre for Social Justice has proposed a 40% tax credit for businesses hiring and training Neets, estimating it could unlock up to £23 billion in savings for the Treasury through reduced benefit costs and increased tax revenues.

The business intervention comes as both Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Reeves acknowledge the scale of the problem.

“None of us should accept a system that operates like that,” Starmer told MPs at the Liaison Committee last month. “It is broken and needs to be mended.”

Reeves has described the scale of youth unemployment as a “crisis”, but faces opposition within her own party over broader welfare reforms, particularly around disability benefits and cuts to support for those unable to work.

While the Treasury is reportedly aiming to raise £30 billion through tax reforms to fill a fiscal hole, ministers may now have to weigh that against the economic gains of reducing youth unemployment.

The call for a skills-led tax incentive reflects a wider shift in thinking, with businesses now being seen as key delivery partners in tackling social and economic inactivity—rather than relying solely on state welfare systems.

Supporters argue that investing in vocational upskilling and early career development is not just a social good, but an economic imperative in a tight labour market.

Whether Labour’s new government will heed the call remains to be seen. But with youth unemployment nearing the one million mark, pressure is mounting for bold and immediate intervention.

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UK business leaders call on Labour to introduce skills tax relief for training Neets

Millions of motorists in the UK who purchased cars on finance deals may be entitled to compensation of up to £950 each, under one of the largest redress schemes in British history.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) confirmed on Sunday that it will launch a formal consultation on a redress programme for car finance mis-selling, following concerns over undisclosed commission arrangements between lenders and car dealerships.

The FCA estimates the scheme could cost motor finance providers between £9 billion and £18 billion — a substantial figure, though lower than the previously feared £30 billion following a Court of Appeal judgment last October.

The scandal centres on discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs), where car dealers had the ability to set interest rates on loans and receive higher commissions for charging customers more. These practices, banned by the FCA in 2021, created conflicts of interest that often left consumers unknowingly overpaying.

Nikhil Rathi, Chief Executive of the FCA, said: “It’s clear that some firms have broken the law and our rules. It’s fair for their customers to be compensated. We also want to ensure that the market, relied on by millions each year, can continue to work well.”

The FCA urged customers who believe they were overcharged to submit complaints now and clarified that there is no need to use a claims management company or solicitor, which could take up to 30% of any redress awarded.

Individuals who have already lodged complaints do not need to take further action at this stage.

The consultation will launch by early October, with final proposals expected in early 2026. If approved, the FCA says redress payments could begin later in 2026.

Under the proposed scheme, the average payout is expected to be under £950 per person, depending on the specific finance deal and the extent of undisclosed commissions involved.

This would still make the scheme one of the largest in UK financial services history, behind only the payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal, which resulted in £50 billion in compensation.

Who is affected?
• Consumers who financed a vehicle between 2007 and January 2021
• Those whose deals involved discretionary commission arrangements
• Customers who were not informed about commissions or interest rate setting

Lenders expected to be most impacted include Lloyds Banking Group, through its Black Horse division, which has already set aside £1.2 billion, along with Barclays, Santander UK, and Close Brothers.

The original legal cases that prompted scrutiny involved ordinary consumers — including a factory worker, postman, and student nurse — and were brought against MotoNovo and Close Brothers.

Although the Supreme Court last week overturned key parts of that earlier judgment, avoiding the most extreme financial exposure for lenders, the FCA has made clear that redress is still required where breaches have occurred.

In a clear message to consumers, the FCA reiterated that claimants do not need to engage claims management companies (CMCs) or law firms to file a complaint or take part in the upcoming scheme.

“Our aim is a compensation scheme that’s fair and easy to participate in,” said Rathi. “If you use a claims management company, it will cost you a significant chunk of any money you get.”

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Millions of UK drivers could receive £950 each in car finance compensation scheme

High street banks have lost £100 billion in deposits over the past five years, as UK savers increasingly turn to online challengers, specialist lenders and building societies offering more competitive interest rates, according to a new report by KPMG.

The professional services firm said the traditional banks’ share of the UK deposit market fell from 84% in 2019 to 80% in 2024, as customers shifted their savings away from the major names like Lloyds, Barclays, NatWest and HSBC.

The migration follows a period of public backlash, where banks were accused of profiting from rising interest rates by failing to pass on increases to savers—while mortgage and loan rates surged.

Executives from the UK’s biggest lenders were called to face regulators and MPs in 2023, amid mounting pressure to offer fairer returns for customers during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

KPMG also revealed that the UK banking sector recorded a £3.7 billion fall in pre-tax profits last year—its first significant downturn since the pandemic recovery began.

Meanwhile, the sector’s average return on equity—a key measure of profitability—is forecast to drop by more than a third from 13% in 2023 to just 8% by 2027, equivalent to an £11 billion annual decline.

Peter Westlake, a partner at KPMG UK, said the sector must urgently adapt to the “lower-growth, higher-cost environment” that lies ahead.

“Banks are facing a lower-growth, higher-cost environment that demands transformation at pace. While we can expect profitability to broadly remain sound this year, the entire sector needs to show how they are preparing for challenges ahead.”

The report also highlighted a 6% rise in bank operating costs during 2024, alongside falling productivity among workers—both factors expected to further squeeze margins and hinder growth.

Westlake noted that while some cost-saving initiatives may help in the short term, true competitiveness would come from more radical changes, such as the adoption of artificial intelligence and broader business model transformation.

“The winners will be those that move beyond tactical cost-cutting and proactively address oncoming market headwinds,” he said.

Despite public anger and political pressure, the UK government has so far resisted calls to introduce a windfall tax on banks—unlike countries such as Spain, Lithuania and the Czech Republic, which imposed levies to claw back profits made during the interest rate hikes.

However, KPMG’s report suggests that British banks can no longer rely on customer inertia or legacy advantages to maintain profitability. As consumer trust erodes and savers become more financially savvy, digital-first and customer-centric providers are poised to seize even more market share.

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UK high street banks lose £100bn in savings as customers chase better rates online

The number of green energy tariffs available to UK households has fallen sharply, as consumers opt for affordability over sustainability amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.

According to data from uSwitch and energy consultancy Cornwall Insight, green energy deals—once making up 85% of the market in 2022—now account for just 18% of the tariffs listed on price comparison websites.

The decline marks a significant shift in consumer behaviour since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which triggered a global energy shock and pushed UK household gas and electricity bills to record highs.

Green tariffs typically carry a premium due to their use of renewable energy sources or associated green certifications. However, with inflation and energy insecurity biting, many households have abandoned green tariffs in favour of cheaper alternatives.

“Green credentials aren’t a higher priority than cost,” said William Mann-Belotti, analyst at Cornwall Insight. “Amid a cost of living crisis, it becomes difficult to sell pure green tariffs at a premium.”

Cornwall Insight found that the number of dual-fuel green tariffs available to UK consumers has halved in the last year, dropping from 24 in summer 2023 to just 13 last month.

uSwitch data confirms the broader trend: green deals—once dominant on price comparison sites—have become a niche option, representing less than one-fifth of all available tariffs this year.

The fall in green tariffs is a clear response to shifting customer priorities. Energy suppliers have pulled back premium-priced renewable offerings as households have shown stronger price sensitivity during a prolonged period of economic uncertainty.

“Consumer choice plays a strong role in what’s available in the market,” said Mann-Belotti. “When cost concerns take over, suppliers reduce the green options on offer.”

He added that many consumers are still exploring other ways to reduce their carbon footprint, including a rise in domestic solar panel installations.

Despite the reduction in the number of green tariffs, the quality of remaining deals has improved, according to uSwitch.

The price comparison service grades each green tariff to identify which ones genuinely support renewable generation—versus those that rely on purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs), a practice often criticised as “greenwashing”.

In 2021, fewer than 15% of green tariffs were rated gold or silver by uSwitch. By 2023, 9 out of 10 green deals received top-tier ratings, with only one rated bronze.

This reflects a market shift away from tokenistic environmental claims, with suppliers increasingly choosing to source energy directly from renewable projects, or tie pricing to real-time renewable availability—encouraging consumers to use power when it’s cleanest.

While the short-term outlook suggests continued pressure on green tariffs due to economic constraints, industry experts say policy incentives and falling renewable costs could help restore their popularity.

In the meantime, providers looking to support sustainability will need to find creative ways to balance green credentials with cost-conscious customer expectations.

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Green energy tariffs fall to five-year low as UK households prioritise cost

Former Health Secretary Sir Jeremy Hunt has warned that the UK risks “over-medicalising” everyday life events such as bereavement and job loss, cautioning against a growing trend of signing people off work with anxiety and depression.

Speaking at the Buxton Literary Festival, the former Chancellor said he believed the country had gone too far in medicalising normal human experiences, as welfare claims linked to mental health continue to rise.

“Everyone has trauma – bereavements, sometimes losing their jobs. That is not the same as mental illness,” Hunt said. “I think it’s immoral we are signing off 3,000 people a day saying they don’t have to look for work.”

Hunt, who served as Health Secretary from 2012 to 2018, highlighted that many of those receiving fit notes for mental health conditions would benefit more from social contact and routine than isolation.

“The majority of those have anxiety and depression, and the one thing they need is social contact. If you sign them out of the world of work, their anxiety is going to get worse rather than better.”

His comments come amid significant debate within Westminster over welfare reforms. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), the number of working-age adults in England and Wales claiming disability benefits has jumped by nearly 1 million since 2019, reaching 2.9 million—or 7.5% of the population aged 16 to 64.

Around 500,000 of those new claims are attributed to mental health conditions, particularly anxiety and depression.

The government has faced internal resistance over plans to tighten benefit assessments, with critics arguing that the NHS still lacks sufficient mental health resources to offer viable alternatives to work-related stress or burnout.

While Hunt supports greater openness around mental health, he warned that simply removing individuals from the workplace without adequate support was a disservice to both patients and the public purse.

“What we should be doing is increasing mental health provision on the NHS. For that individual, it’s far better—but it’s also better for Rachel Reeves when she’s trying to make the numbers add up for her budget.”

In a wide-ranging talk, the Godalming and Ash MP also gave his backing to Kemi Badenoch, the new leader of the Conservative Party, who succeeded Rishi Sunak after the Tories’ historic defeat at the last general election.

“We’ve had four leaders in four years. If changing leader was the answer, we’d be doing much better in the polls than we are doing.”

Hunt said Badenoch needed to “move on from contrition” and begin “offering solutions” to Britain’s economic and social challenges.

“There’s a football pitch-sized hole in politics for a party offering solutions. Labour is ducking decisions; Reform is not credible.”

Asked whether he might return to frontline politics, Hunt ruled out a permanent comeback but said he would support Badenoch “if it would help” ahead of any future election.

On a lighter note, the veteran MP joked that his poll ratings may have improved thanks to photographs of him with his family labrador, Poppy, outside Downing Street last July.

“Someone tweeted, ‘God, he’s got a labrador—can I change the way I voted?’ That’s the British public!”

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Jeremy Hunt: ‘We’re over-medicalising anxiety and depression with sick notes’

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to eliminate the long-standing de minimis tariff exemption for low-value imports into the United States—significantly increasing costs for UK exporters, global e-commerce sellers, and American consumers buying inexpensive goods from overseas.

From 29 August 2025, all goods entering the US valued under $800 will be subject to full duties, based on the country of origin and product category. The exemption, which previously allowed duty-free import of low-value packages, was a cornerstone of cross-border e-commerce and streamlined global trade.

Over the past decade, the number of low-value parcels entering the US has surged by more than 600%, according to US Customs and Border Protection. Shipments rose from 139 million in 2015 to over 1.36 billion in 2024, fuelled by the rise of e-commerce platforms like Temu and Shein, which rely on low-cost, high-volume delivery models.

The White House described the de minimis provision as a “catastrophic loophole” that enabled tariff evasion and the import of unsafe or below-market goods, including counterfeit products and synthetic opioids.

“We are ending this abuse of America’s trade laws and putting American jobs and safety first,” said a White House spokesperson.

While the order takes effect this summer, it will be made permanent on 1 July 2027 as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which aims to reshape US trade policy under Trump’s broader “America First” agenda.

The decision has sparked concern among UK exporters, particularly SMEs and e-commerce retailers, who rely on the de minimis route to ship low-cost goods into the lucrative US consumer market.

Marco Forgione, Director General of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, called the move “deeply unsettling” for British businesses.

“Thousands of UK firms now face immediate new costs when trading into the US. This removes one of the few simple, low-friction routes into the American market,” he warned.

“We’re seeing a deliberate and muscular campaign by the US to rewrite the rules of global trade. From blanket tariffs to regulatory shocks, it’s becoming a riskier and more uncertain environment.”

Forgione added that UK policymakers must now consider how to defend access and competitiveness for exporters, and ensure any future review of de minimis thresholds supports jobs and protects supply chains.

Wednesday’s executive order was part of a wider set of tariff announcements by the Trump administration:

A 50% tariff on imported copper
A 25% tariff on India for purchasing Russian oil
A 40% tariff on Brazil, citing trade imbalances and unfair practices

This follows earlier moves to exclude China and Hong Kong from de minimis eligibility, in an attempt to curb the influence of Chinese e-commerce platforms and reduce reliance on overseas manufacturing.

Pharmaceutical firms have also come under pressure, with the White House reportedly writing to industry leaders demanding additional price cuts—signalling a full-spectrum trade strategy spanning tech, energy, health, and manufacturing.

What’s next?

Although the Biden administration had previously sought to limit low-cost imports through new regulations, Trump’s move is a more sweeping reform with immediate consequences for importers, retailers, and logistics providers.

UK exporters are now urged to reassess their supply chain strategies and prepare for new customs barriers. Meanwhile, industry bodies are calling for a coordinated international response to preserve the rules-based trade system and protect access for smaller businesses.

While American travellers will still be able to bring back $200 of personal items duty-free, and gifts valued under $100remain exempt, the days of effortless cross-border shopping may be numbered.

Key Change
Impact on UK Exporters

End of $800 de minimis threshold
All shipments to US now subject to import duties, regardless of value

New duties on all low-value imports
UK firms face higher costs to reach American consumers

Exemption suspended for China and Hong Kong
Popular low-cost routes like Temu or Shein excluded

Permanent change from July 2027
Businesses must prepare for permanent tariff regime

Personal and gift allowances remain
Travellers can still bring back $200 personal goods; $100 gifts remain exempt

Higher compliance costs for SMEs
Small firms must absorb or pass on new administrative and duty costs

Greater customs friction and delays
Longer customs processes likely for all parcels under $800

Risk to e-commerce business models
Online retailers reliant on high-volume, low-cost US sales under pressure

Export competitiveness impacted
Reduced price advantage may lower demand from US buyers

Read more:
Trump ends de minimis tariff exemption, hitting UK exporters and global e-commerce