Trump tariffs would be ‘devastating blow’ to UK steel industry The steel industry has urged Sir Keir Starmer to act to protect it from Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs, warning the US president’s move would be a “devastating blow”.
The UK Government is waiting to see details of Mr Trump’s policy, but the steel industry body called for decisive action from ministers while unions warned further jobs could be put at risk in a sector which has already suffered badly in recent years.
Alasdair McDiarmid, assistant general secretary at trade union Community, said: “At a time of uncertainty for the sector, a punitive new tariff on UK steel exports would be hugely damaging and threaten jobs.
He added: “It is deeply disappointing if President Trump sees the need to target UK steel, given our relatively small production volumes compared to major steel nations.
There are fears within the industry that US tariffs could also see exports from other countries – such as China – diverted to the UK, heaping further pressure on the domestic industry.
