Overview

• A narrowly scoped tariff‑free quota that officials aimed to finalise this week was put on hold hours before President Trump arrived in Britain.
• The government is seeking a permanent guarantee that duties on UK steel will not exceed 25%, compared with 50% applied to other countries.
• US worries about the UK becoming a backdoor for cheap third‑country steel, tied to rules‑of‑origin verification, remain the principal obstacle.
• UK Steel’s Gareth Stace called the decision disappointing but said a fixed 25% rate offers certainty and a potential edge if others stay at 50%, while urging stronger UK trade defenses.
• Opposition figures, including Daisy Cooper and Andrew Griffith, accused ministers of overstating zero‑tariff promises, as Trump signalled willingness to talk and exports to the US account for roughly 6% by volume and 9% by value.