Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the announcement of an agreement between the US and EU in the section 232 steel and aluminium trade dispute which includes the removal of the EU’s tariff on American Whiskeys, if her Department will hold discussions with representatives of (a) the UK steel industry and (b) UK importers subject to tariffs on the potential merits of a similar agreement for the UK to ensure that businesses in Scotland are not left at a competitive disadvantage.

In preparation for resuming talks with the US on Section 232 tariffs, we continue to work closely with the UK steel and aluminium industries to understand the implications of the US-EU deal. Any deal that the UK secures with the US must work for the steel and aluminium sectors. We have also been engaging with UK importers, including the SWA. Importers know that our preference is the full removal of 232 tariffs, in which case the UK’s rebalancing measures will not be required, ensuring that UK industries are not left at a competitive disadvantage.