The UK has shelved its push to eliminate US tariffs on British steel on the eve of Donald Trump's second state visit. The government is understood to have paused efforts to cut the levy from 25% to zero as originally agreed earlier this year.
Mr Trump hinted at possible tariff relief for British steel as he boarded Air Force One on Tuesday, telling reporters he was "into helping" Britain refine the transatlantic trade deal. "We've made a deal, and it's a great deal, and I'm into helping them," he said. "They'd like to see if they could get a little bit better deal. So, we'll talk to them."
Downing Street remained non-committal about progress on the steel tariffs. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said there was "a range of things that we're going to discuss with the President" but declined to predict outcomes.
Trump arrives for state visit
The US President was greeted by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and RAF personnel from The King's Colour Squadron at London Stansted airport on Tuesday evening. Mr Trump and his wife Melania later travelled to Winfield House, the official residence of the US ambassador in Regent's Park.
Mr Trump will visit Windsor Castle on Wednesday for a ceremonial welcome and state banquet hosted by the King. He will then meet Sir Keir Starmer (Labour) at the Prime Minister's country estate Chequers on Thursday.
No public-facing engagements are planned for the president, with thousands expected to take part in major protests against his two-day stay. Mr Trump had earlier hailed the "great honour" of being hosted by the King at Windsor Castle for his unprecedented second state visit.
Political criticism mounts
The Liberal Democrats accused the government of throwing "in the towel" to Mr Trump, who they said had "reneged on" the original agreement for US steel tariffs to fall to zero. Deputy party leader Daisy Cooper said: "It looks like the Government has thrown in the towel instead of fighting to stand up for the UK steel industry."
"We were told US tariffs on UK steel would be lifted completely, now that's turned out to be yet another promise Trump has reneged on," Cooper added. "It just shows Trump is an unreliable partner and that rewarding a bully only gets you so far."
Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith challenged the Prime Minister's earlier claims about the trade deal. "On May 8, the Prime Minister claimed credit for negotiating steel tariffs to zero," he said. "Now it turns out that was untrue and it's actually 25%. Either his maths or his relationship with the truth clearly needs some work."
Liam Byrne (Labour), chairman of the Commons Business and Trade Committee, warned over the weekend that Britain now trades with its biggest partner "on terms that are worse than the past". He described the state visit as "no mere pageant".
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
