[UK to Miss Deadline to Agree Steel and Aluminium Tariffs]

Published: Jul 8, 2025 22:58

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The UK will not meet the US-imposed 9 July deadline to finalise a trade deal on steel and aluminium, say government and industry insiders. President Trump had warned that, absent an agreement by that date, duties on British steel and aluminium imports would rise from the current 25 %—the rate the UK pays—to 50 %, matching what other countries face, whereas a signed deal would eliminate those tariffs. Despite weeks of negotiations and assurances of completion by the end of June, talks have stalled over two main issues: the US demand that only steel “melted and poured” in the UK (i.e., produced in blast or electric-arc furnaces) qualify for tariff relief, and American unease that British Steel—though now under government control—remains legally owned by Chinese interests and still operates the last blast furnaces in Scunthorpe.

Government sources remain optimistic that a deal can be struck by the end of July and believe the White House will defer imposing the 50 % tariffs in the meantime, citing the administration’s limited bandwidth amid multiple simultaneous trade talks. Meanwhile, although terms for car and aerospace exports have already been agreed, the metals component remains unsigned, leaving UK steel exports subject to the existing 25 % duty.

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