The promised elimination of steel and aluminium tariffs was not part of the measures announced by Donald Trump during a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer.

Downing Street has insisted the UK is not being strung along by Donald Trump as US tariffs on British steel imports remain in place weeks after Sir Keir Starmer first promised they would be removed.

US President Mr Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir signed off a US-UK deal that will slash trade barriers on goods from both countries at the G7 on Monday.

But US tariffs for the steel industry remain at 25%, with no certainty on whether they will be eliminated next month or double to 50% in line with other countries.

The two leaders pledged to “make progress towards 0% tariffs on core steel products as agreed”, the Department for Business and Trade said.

But the executive order signed by Mr Trump suggests the US wants further assurances about the UK steel industry.

“The United Kingdom also committed to working to meet American requirements on the security of the supply chains of steel and aluminium products intended for export to the United States and on the nature of ownership of relevant production facilities,” the order states.

After signing it, Mr Trump was asked whether steel tariffs would be eliminated, to which he replied: “We’re gonna let you have that information in a little while.”

The UK-US economic prosperity deal was agreed in general terms on May 8 and Mr Trump’s executive order begins to put it in place.

Downing Street said the deal with Mr Trump had already spared the UK from being hit with the global 50% tariff on steel and aluminium from June 4.

But it could be a temporary reprieve, with Mr Trump setting July 9 as the date to decide whether to proceed with the agreement to reduce tariffs to 0% or to increase them to the global 50% rate.

Source: The Standard

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