British premier does not rule out retaliatory tariffs on US, says 'all options remain on the table'

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday made it clear that the UK is not ruling out retaliatory tariffs against the US in response to ongoing global trade disputes, particularly regarding steel and aluminum.

US President Donald Trump’s new 25% global tariffs on steel and aluminum came into effect “with no exceptions or exemptions.”

During Prime Minister's Question Time, Starmer expressed "disappointment" over the global tariffs currently imposed on these critical industries, saying the government would adopt a "pragmatic approach" moving forward.

His comments came after a question from Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who also brought up the topic of US President Donald Trump and suggested that Starmer should travel to Canada to show support for the country’s newly appointed Prime Minister Mark Carney, in his trade dispute with the US.

Starmer reiterated that Canada remains a "vital ally" and said the ongoing negotiations for an economic deal would encompass tariffs, if successfully agreed upon.

However, he left the door open for further action, stressing that "all options remain on the table," including the possibility of retaliatory tariffs.

UK Steel, the country's leading industry group, expressed concern that the move will not only harm direct trade but also push steel trade away from the US and into other markets, such as the UK.

The US remains the UK's second-largest export market for steel after the EU, with exports of specialist steel products accounting for 9% of the total value and 7% of the volume of UK steel exports.