Spectator Deputy Editor Freddy Gray has warned that Donald Trump's steel tariffs could spell a "lethal blow" to the British industry, while noting Labour's decision not to retaliate against the US President's trade policy.
Speaking to GB News, Gray explained that the UK "has not escaped tariffs" under Trump's new regime.
He noted that "Keir Starmer is not going to do a tit for tat approach with Donald Trump."
The US President has imposed a 25 per cent tariff on worldwide steel and aluminium imports, which will result in a further tax burden for the British steelworks industry.
Gray warned that Trump's tariffs could deliver a "lethal blow" to the British steel industry.
"This could be a sort of lethal blow to the British steel industry because the British steel industry is in terrible, terrible decline," he said.
He emphasised the particular vulnerability of steel manufacturing to these pressures.
"It's just impossible for manufacturing in this country, particularly steel manufacturing, which is very energy intensive. So it's very bad timing for steel."
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Gray highlighted the unpredictable nature of Trump's tariff decisions. "How long these tariffs will last is up for debate," he noted.
He pointed to the recent example with Canada as evidence of Trump's erratic approach.
"Yesterday Donald Trump said he would retaliate against Canada by raising a 25 per cent tariff to 50 per cent. He then overnight has rolled it back.
"It's almost impossible to keep up with what's going on in Donald Trump and tariffs," Gray said.
Despite this, Gray believes Labour's current approach is sensible: "I'm not sure that's a game Britain wants to get involved in," he said regarding retaliatory tariffs.
"At the moment, Labour's position of trying to be accommodating to Trump is a good one."
However, he stressed the fundamental unpredictability of Trump's trade policies.
"We just don't know where Trump will go with tariffs because it's chaotic."
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Speaking to GB News, Gray explained that the UK "has not escaped tariffs" under Trump's new regime.
He noted that "Keir Starmer is not going to do a tit for tat approach with Donald Trump."
The US President has imposed a 25 per cent tariff on worldwide steel and aluminium imports, which will result in a further tax burden for the British steelworks industry.
Gray warned that Trump's tariffs could deliver a "lethal blow" to the British steel industry.
"This could be a sort of lethal blow to the British steel industry because the British steel industry is in terrible, terrible decline," he said.
He emphasised the particular vulnerability of steel manufacturing to these pressures.
"It's just impossible for manufacturing in this country, particularly steel manufacturing, which is very energy intensive. So it's very bad timing for steel."
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Gray highlighted the unpredictable nature of Trump's tariff decisions. "How long these tariffs will last is up for debate," he noted.
He pointed to the recent example with Canada as evidence of Trump's erratic approach.
"Yesterday Donald Trump said he would retaliate against Canada by raising a 25 per cent tariff to 50 per cent. He then overnight has rolled it back.
"It's almost impossible to keep up with what's going on in Donald Trump and tariffs," Gray said.
Despite this, Gray believes Labour's current approach is sensible: "I'm not sure that's a game Britain wants to get involved in," he said regarding retaliatory tariffs.
"At the moment, Labour's position of trying to be accommodating to Trump is a good one."
However, he stressed the fundamental unpredictability of Trump's trade policies.
"We just don't know where Trump will go with tariffs because it's chaotic."
Find Out More...