US imposes 25% tariffs on UK steel imports

https://bmmagazine.co.uk/news/us-imposes-25-tariffs-on-uk-steel-imports/?amp

by GianfrancoZoey

33 comments

  1. # Summary

    * President Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel and steel derivative products have come into force today

    * With no exemptions granted to the UK or other trading partners, industry leaders warn of a damaging ripple effect as diverted steel trade enters markets like Britain.

    * The United States is the second-largest export destination for UK steel — particularly for high-value, specialist products used in defence, oil and gas, construction equipment and packaging

    * Trade diversion poses an additional threat. Although safeguards were introduced to protect UK steel from dumping, they have been gradually liberalised and quotas are now 22% larger than in 2018, despite UK steel demand having fallen by 16% in the same period.

    * The European Union’s Steel and Metals Action Plan, due to be presented on 19 March, could add further pressure on UK exports and intensify the challenges around trade defences.

    * Gareth Stace, Director General of UK Steel, expressed disappointment at the White House decision:
    > *President Trump must surely recognise that the UK is an ally, not a foe. Our steel sector is not a threat to the US, but a partner to key customers, sharing the same values and objectives in addressing global overcapacity and tackling unfair trade. These tariffs couldn’t come at a worse time for the UK steel industry, as we battle with high energy costs and subdued demand at home, against an oversupplied and increasingly protectionist global landscape.*

  2. Jokes on Trump. UK shut down its steel facilities recently

  3. Jokes on you Trump we barely have any of that left!

  4. We’re so lucky to have a billionaire client media that helps us to make genius decisions like leaving the EU and weakening our steel industry to near breaking point while we no longer have the protection of the largest trading block in the world.

    Don’t worry though, I’m sure we’ll be getting those amazing trade deals with our friendly and reliable partners in the US soon. It will be an amazing deal for us. Ignore the fact Trump is illegally setting aside trade deals he himself signed only a a few years ago to impose punitive tariffs on allies for not agreeing to be annexed.

    What will our benevolent and honest billionaire client press talk us into next? Voting away workers rights under the Human Rights Act because they twist details of migrant court cases on the front pages every day?

    Sure, even if you took them at their word you’d be talking about maybe 100 cases per year out of immigration of 1.2 million but probably the courts and the HRA are the problem, not the over 1 million work and student visas handed out.

    A fraction of a fraction of 1% of immigration is allowed by those crazy lefty judges and lawyers destroying our county so vote away workers rights now! It’s the only smart thing to do.

    Why do we allow well over half a million work visa entries a year if we have a housing crisis and people can’t afford to have families?

    Shhhh. Don’t ask questions. Look at the evil immigrants forcing their way across the channel.

  5. Does anyone know if this includes completed components made of steel? If so our machining industry could take a battering.

  6. Our response to this has been absolutely pathetic. Literally every other country has retaliated.

    We have announced we will do absolutely fuck all and hope for a trade deal which will “lower” these tariffs.

    If you are in the UK, and you are not already, you should be boycotting every single American product you can. Absolute scumbags will not be content until the entire world has burnt to the ground.

    What the fuck are we trying to salvage. Fuck the US, side with the EU.

  7. The word ‘tariff’ needs changing to ‘tax’ then people might just get it. This trade war means we are all paying more TAX on stuff we import, including Americans! Perhaps the White House Press Secretary should be honest with her audience like Brexiters should have levelled with their audience back in the day.

  8. Bet 100% Starmer leaves his minerals in Trumps suitcase rather than defend Britain’s interests.

  9. “special relationship” is and was only ever one sided. It was always the British shouting it loud as possible, but never a peep from the US.

  10. Re-open our steel mills. Give people in Wales their industry back and make our own.

  11. There is a genuine case for a referendum to rejoin the EU, and make Europe into a Superpower in its own right. The EU and the UK together have the second largest GDP in the world, behind only the USA.

  12. What do we as consumers buy here that was made in the USA? Would tarrifs apply to goods made elsewhere but exported to us by an USA based company, which is more likely IMO?

  13. Boycott American goods and companies.
    This includes McDonald’s, Boots and Cadbury. 

  14. Hopefully the hopes about the special relationship are now over even in the most deluded British politicians and we can start realignment with our only feasible ally, the EU.

  15. Starmer straight back to being a weak, spineless, loser I see. That didn’t take long.

    A strong leader wouldn’t give Donald Plump an inch. If he applies 25% to us, we should be applying 30% to them. It sends a message, and will turbocharge disconnecting our economy from them which is clearly needed.

    This whole nonsense should also be a very loud and clear signal that allowing the death of our industry over the past decades has been a disaster. We need to again produce much more inside the UK and import far less.

  16. Apparently Starmer has already grovelled before Trump: “Please Sir, can I have some more, Sir?”

    *Starmer will not impose immediate UK counter-tariffs to US steel levies*

    https://archive.ph/qzXMz

    https://www.ft.com/content/75cbf1fc-e4db-4ff3-bab2-5b2fa5c63c45

    An astonishing display of spinelessness, even for him. And then of course he’ll go back to beating disabled people and old folk and saying he’s being “tough” because he is a bully as wel as a coward.

  17. UK still make steel? 😆 thought the energy prices forced everything to shut down.

  18. You know, I’m not feeling particularly special right now.

  19. The last time these protectionist policies were introduced in America to stop cheap steel from abroad it hurt the USA car industry. Any American product produced using expensive steel, itself becomes more expensive. Cars from abroad became much cheaper than American cars.

    The same thing will happen again.

  20. A lot of Redditors seem super confident on how to respond (counter-tariffs, boycott all US companies, etc.).

    Why does it seem so simple the response that is suggested versus what is done in actual government?

    Is the situation more complex than most Redditors believe or is it the case that Starmer knows a lot less of how economics works compared to the average person here?

  21. Uk left EU

    and now is being buttfucked by USA

    UK is a limp, sickly child walking along a lonely road.

  22. Slap a 25% tariff on any of their normal cars and 250% on Tesla just to watch Donald ‘boycotting tesla is illegal’ Trump and the Ketamine clown lose their shit.

  23. Is funny how many people here think that Trump is just making those decisions on a whim without consulting with his experts. He is playing a game, might backfire on the US, but his moves are definitely well calculated.

  24. Jesus. My whole Reddit feed today is literally just Trump, his tariffs, and his continuing threats to annex Canada.

  25. after shitting on Europe, thinking that the US would welcome them with open arms, now they are getting screwed by Trump… Good luck guys.

  26. How much steel do we export?

    I mean how much steel do we actually produce anymore?

    Politicians have destroyed our ability to produce virgin steel.

  28. Sooo, what did Starmer actually achieve during his Trump rimming a couple weeks back? The media were very congratulatory of him, but by my tally he managed fuck all:

    * No tariffs ❌

    * Renewed support from Ukraine ❌

    * Delivering a party invitation ✅

  29. Tariffs on American cars. Full Inland Revenue audit of all US firms operating in UK. Remove all US consulting firms from government work.

  30. Fuck Trump and fuck the USA.

    From a Canadian here, let’s strengthen our bond.

    Also, do as Canada is doing and actively avoid ALL American products and services. Support your local economy, or the economy of your allies.

    America is an enemy now. Elbows up my UK friends.

  31. Gentle reminder to stop buying US goods and services. You can boycott their fast-food for example.

  32. And the UK’s response? Desperation to suck Trump’s arsehole.

  33. Is this a case of Trump tariffing the UK so he can say to the other countries, “look, I did it to them too”?

    Sales of British Steel is going to go through the roof within the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia as we all buildup our military capabilities (as a result of America being twats).

    If we don’t sell steel to the US, we’ll just sell it somewhere else. This is almost a nothing thing.

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