The United Kingdom has no immediate plans to retaliate against the US President Donald Trump’s recent decision to renew steel and aluminium tariffs. Many in the industry are urging the UK to follow the lead of Canada and the European Union and hit back against the policy set to apply from March 12. The taxes would mean any steel or aluminium imported into the US would have an import tax totaling 25% of its value. The UK government sources are calling for “Cool heads” to avoid additions to tensions with the Trump administration, and retaliatory tariffs.
On Tuesday, UK officials will visit the steel industry and unions, and explore key steel companies at later times this week. UK’s role in tariffs seems separated from other G7 allies as they strive for “strength projecting” to The White House. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson has refrained from opining on whether Trump was mistaken to have imposed the tariffs. “We will take a considered approach to this. We will engage with the US on the detail, but the government is clear we will work in our national interest, and this issue is no different to that.” Tariffs affect companies purchasing from overseas, not the overseas companies selling to them.
UK Steel, an industry trade body, warned Trump’s actions would devastate the UK’s steel industry. Unite, the worker’s union representing the UK’s steel workers, wants the announcement to act as a wake-up call for the government and buy more UK-produced steel in response. President Trump had already introduced similar steel and aluminium tariffs in 2018 during his first term, but most countries, including the UK, were ultimately able to secure exceptions
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