12th Feb 2025 13:40
(Alliance News) - Keir Starmer insisted he would "always put our national interest first" as the government weighs up its response to Donald Trump's steel tariffs.
The prime minister told MPs the UK would not "abandon" steelworkers amid warnings that the UK steel industry faces a devasting blow when Trump's 25% tax on imports to the US comes into effect next month.
The EU has promised to retaliate over US tariffs, but Starmer said he is still assessing what the UK response will be.
With Starmer hopeful of a visit to see Trump in the coming weeks, the government will be reluctant to start a trade war with the US.
Starmer told MPs: "British steel is an essential part of our heartlands, and we will not abandon our skilled workforce, and it needs a level-headed assessment of the implications, which is what we're going through at the moment.
"But we will always put our national interest first, and steelworkers first."
He was responding to Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who suggested the UK should retaliate with tariffs on American electric cars – a measure aimed at Trump's ally and Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer, Elon Musk.
At Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer said: "The US and the UK share a strong and balanced trading relationship, we invest hugely in each other's economies and we will continue to work closely with President Trump to boost growth and to create jobs."
He told Lagan Valley's Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood: "We will always act in the best interests of businesses and working people across the whole of the UK, including, of course, Northern Ireland."
Britain exported 166,433 tonnes of steel to the US in 2023, the last full year for which figures are available.
Figures from trade body UK Steel showed that in 2024 some 162,716 tonnes were sent to the US, but that does not yet include data from December.
UK Steel warned the tariffs "would be a devastating blow to our industry" and accused Trump of taking a "sledgehammer to free trade".
Trump said the tariffs are "the beginning of making America rich again".
By David Hughes and Harry Taylor
Press Association: Finance
source: PA
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