UK Trade Minister to Meet US Counterpart Amid Rising Steel Tariff Tensions

UK Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds is set to meet U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Tuesday in Paris to address concerns over newly announced U.S. steel tariffs. The meeting comes amid rising tensions following President Donald Trump's decision to double tariffs on imported steel to 50%, a move expected to hit British producers hard. Industry group UK Steel warned that the tariff hike would be a “body blow” to the UK’s steel sector.

Reynolds' three-day trip to Paris and Brussels includes discussions on the implementation of recently announced trade arrangements with both the U.S. and EU. While these deals are not formal trade agreements, they reflect political commitments to reduce tariffs, including on UK car and steel exports. However, implementation delays mean tariffs could rise before falling.

The UK government confirmed it is actively engaging with the U.S. to mitigate the potential impact of these tariff changes. Reynolds emphasized the importance of evolving relationships with G7 and EU allies to improve trade conditions for British businesses.

During the trip, Reynolds will also meet with India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to review a pending UK-India Free Trade Agreement. The deal's legal text is under final review, and it awaits ratification by both countries.

Reynolds will further hold talks with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to advance efforts aimed at cutting red tape on UK-EU food trade. In a preemptive move, the UK announced it will cancel planned border checks on EU-imported fruit and vegetables, which were scheduled to start in July.

These diplomatic efforts underscore the UK’s push to ease trade tensions and strengthen its global economic ties amidst shifting international trade dynamics.