US Steel and Aluminium Tariffs Debate

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Department: Department for Business and Trade
Wednesday 12th March 2025

(3 weeks, 3 days ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Jones of Whitchurch Portrait Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)
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My Lords, as the Prime Minister has said, this is a time for a cool-headed approach on the issue of trade tariffs. The UK and the US have a strong economic relationship that is fair, balanced and reciprocal. The tariffs on steel, aluminium and derivatives being proposed by the Trump Administration are global; they are not targeted at the UK. In the meantime, we have been having regular, detailed conversations with the US Administration and have repeatedly and emphatically made the case for the UK to be exempt from proposed tariffs—most recently with the Secretary of State speaking to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Sunday and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Tuesday. We have made that point over and over again. This is a time for a cool-headed approach to any possible tariffs, and we will take every action we need to in order to defend the UK’s national interest.

Baroness Rafferty Portrait Baroness Rafferty (Lab)
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My Lords, I welcome the Opposition’s sudden interest in the fortunes of the British steel industry—a sector which was neglected over the past 15 years and has suffered enormously as a result. This Government launched a consultation on a steel strategy earlier this year. Could my noble friend update the House on the status of that consultation? How soon does she envisage the strategy being brought forward?

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch Portrait Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)
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I thank my noble friend for raising this issue. The steel strategy consultation remains open until 30 March, at which point we will analyse responses received. The consultation is a key step forward in developing the steel strategy, ensuring it best promotes long-term, sustainable growth that will provide benefits to communities across the UK. It will provide us with a clear evidence base on the needs of the steel sector and its customers by leveraging a wide range of views and expertise and will bring those views to the heart of steel-making. We are committed to bringing forward the steel strategy in the spring, and we will learn from the lessons of that strategy.