The UK government has refused to criticize Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariff fees of 25 percent on British steel exports, despite concerns related to industrial leaders that this step will severely harm the sector.
Trump’s executive order, which removes exemptions for the United Kingdom and all other countries, will witness all steel and aluminum imports in the United States, which is targeted from March 12. Defending politics, Trump from the Oval Office said: “This is a big problem, the beginning of making America rich again. Our nation requires solid and aluminum in America, not in foreign lands.”
Commercial advisor Peter Navarro insisted that the measures were necessary to “secure our solid and aluminum industries as vertebral industries and columns for American economic and national security.”
The Director General of the UK steelers condemned the decision, warning that Trump was “taking a heavy hammer for free trade” with potential consequences for the United Kingdom’s steel industry.
“This will not only hinder UK’s exports to the United States, but will also have significant distorted effects on international trade flows, adding more import pressure to our market,” Stas said. He said that the United Kingdom of steel had put forward “no threat” to American national security, adding that many American industries depend on high -quality British steel are not available locally.
Staas urged the UK government to act decisively, called for a “stronger measure” and immediate negotiations to prevent further economic damage. This is clear that this is a new era for global trade. We are confident that the UK government is aware of the impact on our industry and will explore all available options. “
Despite the fears of industry, no 10 challenges refused directly to the White House decision. When asked if Trump was wrong to impose definitions, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson stated: “We will follow a studied approach to this. We will participate with the United States on the details, but the government is clear that we will work in our national interest.”
The UK government also refused to confirm whether it was asking the United States to exclude Britain from definitions or whether financial support will be provided to the local steel sector. Instead, officials pointed to the current measures, with a highlight of 2.5 billion pounds in investment and plans to reduce electricity costs for steel companies through the British Shahan initiative in the British industry.
It seems that Lord Peter Mandleson, the newly appointed UK Ambassador to Washington, is taking a diplomatic approach, saying that Trump’s mandate “must be respected.”
The customs tariff also sparked a broader commercial dispute, with Ursula von der Leyen warning that “fixed and proportional anti -measures” will be in response. She said: “The European Union will act to protect its economic interests … Definitions are taxes – bad for business, and the worst for consumers.”
Chris Southworth, Secretary -General of the International Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom, has warned that the impact of definitions will extend beyond the steel industry, which affects the main sectors such as flying, car manufacturing and construction.
“The United Kingdom has an incredibly important role in the global response,” said Soutoorth.
The United States is the second largest export market in the United Kingdom after the European Union, representing five percent of exports in 2023. British steel data shows that 166,433 tons were exported to the United States in 2023, with the sending of 162, 716 tons in 2024 so far, with the exception of December numbers.
With the UK government carefully entering its response, industry leaders fear that without a decisive action, British steel makers may suffer from long -term damage to the escalation of the latest trade tensions.
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