BTC questions ministers as UK steelmakers express low confidence in trade remedies for Trump tariff war
On Wednesday 26 March the BTC is calling ministers to answer concerns, raised in evidence to the Committee last week, about Government preparedness to respond to Donald Trump’s steel trade war. In particular, the steel executives questioned the timeliness and efficacy of the UK’s Trade Remedies Authority.
Meeting details
Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the BTC, said: “Britain’s steel makers are loud and clear: President Trump’s tariffs are double trouble. Not only do they risk lost sales in America, they risk diverting a surge of Chinese steel into the UK. The European Union is about to put up new guardrails to protect European markets. British steel makers want the same protections, and they lack the confidence in the Trade Remedy Authority to move fast enough. So, we’ll be asking ministers just how they can dramatically accelerate protections for our steel makers before any more steel jobs are lost.”
Sudden geopolitical re-alignments, sparked by the United States’ trade wars and questions over support for Ukraine, have placed new focus on the UK’s troubled steel sector and the UK defence industry’s ability to scale-up and innovate.
There was already renewed interest in these strategic sectors, with the new Government’s forthcoming industrial strategy under development.
Last week the BTC heard compelling evidence from UK steel executives who say Trump’s tariff war is already hitting the UK steel industry, with customers considering cancelling orders and finding new suppliers. The coming months require swift but careful management from Government, as it seeks to mitigate the immediate pressures on the industry and shape its future.
On Wednesday 26 March the BTC will question minister for industry Sarah Jones and the minister for defence procurement Maria Eagle, on how Government will support the sector to deliver for Britain in a new geopolitical and economic global order.