UK’s Secretary of State for International Trade Ms Anne-Marie Trevelyan met United States Trade Representative Ms Katherine Tai in Washington DC to discuss going further on UK-US trade and overcoming existing barriers. Ms Trevelyan highlighted the need to protect domestic industries, pushing for a resolution on the Section 232 tariffs levied on UK steel and aluminium producers. Ms Tai emphasized the United States’ commitment to working with like-minded partners to address non-market excess capacity in the steel and aluminum sectors, ensure the industry’s long-term viability and addressing the carbon intensity of steel and aluminum production.Both also discussed the need to go further in promoting free and fair trade by combating unfair trading practices and reforming the WTO.Both look forward to continuing these vital discussions at future meetings in the New Year.United States Trade Representative last month launched talks with Japan about potentially joining the steel and aluminum agreement, which maintains US Section 232 tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum, while allowing limited volumes of EU-produced metals into the United States duty free.But The Financial Times had reported that US has delayed a deal to remove tariffs on UK steel and aluminium because of concerns that Britain will invoke Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol. US is concerned at UK threats to trigger Article 16, a safeguard clause in the post Brexit Northern Ireland protocol that overrides part of the UK’s exit with the EU and would suspend checks on goods travelling to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK
UK’s Secretary of State for International Trade Ms Anne-Marie Trevelyan met United States Trade Representative Ms Katherine Tai in Washington DC to discuss going further on UK-US trade and overcoming existing barriers. Ms Trevelyan highlighted the need to protect domestic industries, pushing for a resolution on the Section 232 tariffs levied on UK steel and aluminium producers. Ms Tai emphasized the United States’ commitment to working with like-minded partners to address non-market excess capacity in the steel and aluminum sectors, ensure the industry’s long-term viability and addressing the carbon intensity of steel and aluminum production.Both also discussed the need to go further in promoting free and fair trade by combating unfair trading practices and reforming the WTO.Both look forward to continuing these vital discussions at future meetings in the New Year.United States Trade Representative last month launched talks with Japan about potentially joining the steel and aluminum agreement, which maintains US Section 232 tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum, while allowing limited volumes of EU-produced metals into the United States duty free.But The Financial Times had reported that US has delayed a deal to remove tariffs on UK steel and aluminium because of concerns that Britain will invoke Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol. US is concerned at UK threats to trigger Article 16, a safeguard clause in the post Brexit Northern Ireland protocol that overrides part of the UK’s exit with the EU and would suspend checks on goods travelling to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK
