Starmer 'disappointed' about Trump steel tariffs and says 'all options on the table'

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is "disappointed" to see Donald Trump impose global tariffs on steel and aluminium.

In his first remarks since the American president imposed the levy, the prime minister said the UK will take a "pragmatic approach" as it seeks an economic trade deal with the US and "all options are on the table".

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Sir Keir was responding to a question from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who called on the government to be more "robust" with Mr Trump.

The prime minister said: "Obviously, like everybody else, I'm disappointed to see global tariffs in relation to steel and aluminium.

"But we will take a pragmatic approach. We are, as he knows, negotiating an economic deal which covers and will include tariffs if we succeed. But we will keep all options on the table."

Asked if he will fly out to Canada to stand with it "against Trump's threats", given it has borne the brunt of Mr Trump's trade war, Sir Keir said the country is "an important ally" but did not commit to a visit.

The global tariffs came into effect at midnight in the US, around 4am UK time, imposing a flat duty on steel and aluminium entering America of 25%.

The move is designed to protect US manufacturing and bolster jobs by making foreign-made products less attractive.

It is a threat to UK steel exports - worth more than £350m annually, with the bulk of that coming from stainless steel.

The tariffs also risk making the cost of things from cars to soft drink cans, and therefore some drinks, more expensive.

Canada is the biggest exporter of both steel and aluminium to America. However, the White House on Tuesday rowed back on a threat to double the levy to 50%, after the provincial government of Ontario halted a plan to charge 25% more for electricity it supplies to over 1.5 million US homes and businesses.

Some countries have already retaliated, with the EU announcing €26bn-worth of counter tariffs on US goods, starting from 1 April.

However, Treasury minister James Murray warned earlier today against a "knee jerk" response.

He told Wilfred Frost on Sky News Breakfast : "We're in a very different position than the EU, as a result of the prime minister's trip to Washington last month.

"The UK and the US have been negotiating rapidly for an economic agreement, and so we're in a position where that negotiation is ongoing and these global tariffs have landed in the middle of that work."

Sir Keir was widely praised following a successful trip to Washington in February, during which Mr Trump said there was a "very good chance" of a trade deal with the UK that would not involve tariffs.

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It sparked hopes the UK could be exempt from future levies being planned by the US president.

Speaking to journalists after Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir's official spokesperson denied being snubbed, saying "obviously these are global tariffs, not targeted at the UK".

Asked whether the economic deal planned between the US and UK would cover steel and aluminium, the spokesman said he was "not going to get ahead of those discussions".

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will discuss the deal in Washington DC next week, which the government has previously suggested will be focused mainly on technology co-operation.

Making "progress" on that deal will be the aim of those discussions, the PM's spokesperson said, adding that the steel industry "has been clear" they don't want to engage in an escalating trade war with the US.

(c) Sky News 2025: Starmer 'disappointed' about Trump steel tariffs and says 'all options on the table'