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The UK will not retaliate immediately to the renewal of steel and aluminium tariffs by the US, the government has said. Speaking in Parliament, Trade Minister Douglas Alexander said the UK would not have “a knee-jerk reaction” but “a cool and clear-headed” response. Many in the industry are calling on Britain to join the EU and Canada who have said they will hit back against the policy announced by US President Donald Trump on Monday. The tariffs, set to apply from 12 March, would mean any steel or aluminium coming into the US would be subject to an import tax worth 25% of its value. Alexander said this deadline would give the government time to engage with steel firms and unions in the UK, and with incoming US trade officials.
Alexander said it was “a moment of great peril for the UK steel industry because the UK has failed to engage with gusto with the new US administration”. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey urged the government to show “urgency” in dealing with the issue and protecting jobs. UK ministers will meet the steel industry and unions later on Tuesday and visit key steel companies later this week. The UK’s direction of travel on tariffs in general appears to be a clear attempt to differentiate it from other G7 allies’ attempts to project strength to the White House. Canada’s industry minister François-Philippe Champagne has called the decision to impose tariffs “totally unjustified” and said its response would be “clear and calibrated”. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said “unjustified tariffs on the EU will not go unanswered”.
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