Question to the Department for International Trade:

What assessment he has made of the effect of the decision by the US Administration to impose tariffs on steel on securing an early trade deal with the US.

The decision by the US to impose tariffs under Section 232 relates to national security concerns, and therefore does not impact on any potential free trade agreement with the United States.

I had constructive discussions with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer when I was in the United States earlier this month on liberalising the UK-US trading relationship.