On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised that his government would not abandon steel workers, emphasizing that national interests would always come first.
Starmer made the statement while addressing Members of Parliament (MPs), saying, “British steel is an essential part of our heartlands, and we will not abandon our skilled workforce. It needs a level-headed assessment of the implications, which is what we’re going through at the moment.”
US tariff hike:
This came in response to a major move by US President Donald Trump, who on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, announced new tariffs of 25 percent on all steel and aluminum imports to the United States. The tariffs, which are set to take effect on March 4, will apply to imports from every country, including the UK.
Trump signed the orders at the White House, stating that the tariffs are part of a larger plan to “make America rich again.”
Background:
This is not the first time the US has introduced such tariffs. During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump imposed similar tariffs on steel and aluminum from the European Union. In response, the EU criticized the decision, stating that it found no justification for the tariffs.
Despite these global tensions, Prime Minister Starmer reassured British workers that their interests would remain protected and that the UK would work to assess the situation calmly and carefully.
