The UK wants a “cool and clear-headed” response to Donald Trump imposing 25% tariffs on British metal exports, the commerce minister has mentioned.
The US president introduced the heavy levies on overseas metal and aluminium late on Monday, saying they are going to be enforced “without exceptions or exemptions”.
UK Metal mentioned the tariffs “would be a devastating blow to our industry” and accused Mr Trump of taking “a sledgehammer to free trade, with huge ramifications for the steel sector in the UK and across the world”.
Nevertheless, commerce minister Douglas Alexander urged a “cool and clear-headed” response from the business somewhat than a “knee-jerk” response.
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Talking within the Commons on Tuesday, he mentioned the UK “stands ready” to search out options that work for each nations.
He mentioned the US had thus far solely printed particulars about tariffs on metal, not on aluminium.
Mr Alexander confirmed the enterprise secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, could be assembly the metal business and commerce unions “within the next 24 hours”, including the UK has traditionally “benefited from a strong and balanced trade relationship with the United States worth around £300m”.
The MP, who can also be a Cupboard Workplace minister, mentioned it was “right and reasonable to be mindful” of what Mr Trump has mentioned and to “undertake analysis”.
The US president “has a speciality in generating uncertainty – it’s part of his style of negotiations,” he added.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is hoping to go to Washington DC within the coming weeks for talks with Mr Trump, however no particulars have but been confirmed.
Downing Road declined to say whether or not Mr Trump was mistaken to impose the tariffs, saying the federal government “will take a considered approach” and can “engage with the US on the detail”.
A spokesman wouldn’t reveal if discussions with the US concerned the UK asking Mr Trump to exclude Britain from the duties, and wouldn’t say if subsidies for British Metal may very well be launched.
He added: “We’ve already provided significant support to the UK steel industry: £2.5bn of investment in the sector, we are bringing forward a British industry supercharger which is cutting electricity costs for steel firms and bringing prices in line with international competitors.”
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President Donald Trump signed an government order to position a 25% tax on overseas metal imports. Pic: AP
The US is the UK metal business’s second-largest export market after the EU, though the federal government mentioned it solely accounted for five% of UK metal exports in 2023.
Mr Trump mentioned the tariffs have been wanted to guard the US metal business and nationwide safety.
UK Metal director-general Gareth Stace mentioned: “President Trump has taken a sledgehammer to free commerce, with large ramifications for the metal sector within the UK and internationally.
“This is not going to solely hinder UK exports to the US, however it is going to even have vastly distortive results on worldwide commerce flows, including additional import strain to our personal market.
“UK metal poses no menace to US nationwide safety. Our high-quality merchandise serve key US industries, lots of which can not supply these domestically.
“This is a moment where our countries should work together to tackle global steel overproduction, not to be at loggerheads.”
