UK temporarily spared from Trump’s 50% steel tariffs

The UK has been temporarily spared from US President Donald Trump’s executive order doubling steel and aluminium tariffs from 25% to 50%.

The order raises import taxes for US-based firms buying the metals from other countries from Wednesday – but the levy remains at 25% for the UK.

However, the UK could end up facing the higher rate if its deal signed with the Trump administration last month, which would see steel and aluminium tariffs axed, does not come into force.

Imports of UK steel into America are currently subject to tariffs, but the UK government said it wanted to implement the agreement to remove them “as soon as possible”.

A spokesperson said the government was “committed to protecting British business and jobs”, but the Conservatives said the order was a “fresh tariff blow” and accused Labour of leaving “businesses in limbo”.

Trump said in the order that the UK needed “different treatment” because of the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) signed on 8 May 2025.

However, Trump later added that the US might increase the tariff on the UK “on or after July 9 2025” if it “determines that the United Kingdom has not complied with relevant aspects of the EPD”.