Oliver Smith
Senior business producer

Image source, Getty

Despite the temporary exemption from the 50% tariffs, there is still much concern
across the UK sector about the existing 25% tariff and uncertainty around the
US-UK deal signed last month.

Yesterday Tata UK, the country’s biggest steelmaker, told the Business Select Committee there were “huge
levels of uncertainty”.

“Where do we go
next? What’s the future for our business?” Tata Director Russell Codling said.

“We’ve
got long-standing arrangements with our customers in the United States.”

Andy Richardson from Special
Melted Products, a specialist steel manufacturer in Sheffield, emphasised
the need for speed on the US-UK deal.

“Special melted products have basically had a complete cessation of activity of
orders in the USA,” he said, adding that business in Europe has also been significantly affected.

“We are losing business rapidly.”

George Drakos, a
director of leading UK aluminium manufacturer Bridgnorth Aluminium in
Shropshire, told MPs the continued uncertainty, particularly around quotas, meant they have temporarily
stopped exporting certain products to the US.

“We have diverted all our US business elsewhere […] the 25% tariffs is not
something that can work in our line of industry.”