LONDON (AP) – The British government expressed disappointment over the Trump administration's tariffs imposed on global steel and aluminum imports but has decided not to take immediate retaliatory actions. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds indicated that the government remains open to the possibility of future tariffs on U.S. imports while emphasizing the importance of ongoing dialogue with the United States to advocate for U.K. business interests. He stated, "We will keep all options on the table and won’t hesitate to respond in the national interest."
Treasury Minister James Murray reinforced this stance during an interview with Times Radio, asserting that Britain reserves the right to retaliate against the U.S. tariffs. This comes as the U.K. finds itself outside the European Union, which recently announced its own set of import taxes on American products, ranging from steel and aluminum to bourbon, peanut butter, and jeans, in retaliation to the tariffs imposed by Trump.
Center-left U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been proactive in fostering strong relations with President Donald Trump, aiming to protect the U.K. from the high tariffs that other trading partners are facing. Following a meeting at the White House last month, both Trump and Starmer indicated that their governments would collaborate to advance a long-awaited U.S.-U.K. trade deal, which would hopefully alleviate the current trade tensions.
Reynolds highlighted that the government is focused on a pragmatic approach in its negotiations, aiming to reach a broader economic agreement with the U.S. that could eliminate additional tariffs and ultimately benefit U.K. businesses and the economy at large. The steel tariffs paint a grim picture for Britain's steel industry, which has dramatically declined since its peak in the 1970s and now comprises a mere 0.1% of the economy. The largest steelworks in the country, located at Port Talbot in Wales, is projected to lose thousands of jobs as its owner, Tata Steel, seeks to make the operation more efficient and environmentally friendly.
According to trade body UK Steel, the U.K. exported around 180,000 metric tons (approximately 198,000 U.S. tons) of steel to the United States in 2024, which represents about 7% of the U.K.'s total steel exports by volume and 9% by value. In addition, the aluminum industry has indicated that the U.S. market constitutes around 10% of U.K. aluminum exports, further underscoring the impact of Trump's tariffs on these industries.
