UK steel companies have been quick to react on the so-called clause 232 announcement on the imposition of duties on steel imports into the US (see separate article). Their trade association UK Steel, not unfamiliar with the challenge of dealing with a significant flood of imported steel, is unhappy with the Trump administration's one-size-fits-all approach.

“Whilst we still await the precise detail of these measures, and there is still a lingering hope that these tariffs may not target the UK and EU, President Trump’s comments do indicate the introduction of blanket measures to restrict the import of all steel imports regardless of their origin,” says UK Steel director Gareth Stace in comments sent to Kallanish.

“This would be a unilateral, and extremely blunt, approach to what is a complex global problem of overcapacity in the steel sector. This requires a coordinated global approach. Whilst we all too well understand the frustrations of the US sector, measures such as these smack of short-termism, protectionism and would be rife with unintended consequences for global trade and for the users of steel in the US,” Stace adds

“At a UK level, our sector exports some £360 million worth of high-value steel products into the US each year, almost 15% of our exports,” the director continues. “These measures, would seriously undermine our ability to compete in this market and would cause serious damage to the prospects of many steel producers here.”  

The European steelmakers’ association Eurofer has also reacted immediately to the announcement (see separate article).