UK Steel said 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".
UK Steel director-general Gareth Stace said: "President Trump has taken a sledgehammer to free trade, with huge ramifications for the steel sector in the UK and across the world.
The US is the UK steel industry's second-largest export market after the EU, although the government said it only accounted for 5% of UK steel exports in 2023.
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.".
Mr Alexander confirmed the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, would be meeting the steel industry and trade unions "within the next 24 hours", adding the UK has historically "benefited from a strong and balanced trade relationship with the United States worth around £300m".
