Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, for what reason her Department's policy on retaliatory tariffs against the US differs in relation to the (a) steel and aluminium and (b) Boeing-Airbus dispute.
The UK Government is committed to resolving both issues to defend UK industry and jobs.
The s.232 tariffs placed on the UK by the US are World Trade Organisation (WTO)-inconsistent and damaging to our steel and aluminium industry. It is important to retain our rebalancing measures to defend our economic interests and uphold the rules-based international trading system. If the US removes these tariffs, we will remove our rebalancing measures.
The retaliatory tariffs from the Boeing-Airbus disputes were awarded by the WTO, and we have agreed a four-month mutual suspension that benefits key UK industries like Scotch Whisky, Irish Whiskey, pork, construction vehicles, cashmere, cheese and others, and creates space to reach a negotiated settlement.