The UK government is seeking urgent clarification from Washington as fears mount across Europe of a new wave of US tariffs targeting products that contain steel. British industry, already subject to a 25% tariff on its steel exports, is now concerned about the “derivative” goods list, which could pull a host of UK-manufactured products into the trade dispute.
The controversy surrounds the United States’ expanding definition of what is subject to steel tariffs. The inclusion of 407 “derivative” product categories—from cranes and wind turbines to furniture—has already broadened the conflict. A new US consultation is now underway, and European industry expects it will lead to an even longer list of affected items.
This “rolling list” approach creates a deeply unstable business environment. Luisa Santos of BusinessEurope described the US-EU trade relationship as “turbulent” due to Washington’s unpredictable power to add new products to tariff lists. This ad hoc expansion undermines certainty, a critical component for healthy trade and investment.
The practical challenges for businesses are significant, forcing them into difficult compliance situations. In Germany, for example, a motorcycle manufacturer was found to be over-declaring its steel content and paying excess tariffs simply to avoid the risk of astronomical fines for any reporting inaccuracies.
Amid this uncertainty, UK trade unions and British Steel are calling for a national pledge to back the country’s steel sector. They argue that with the industry facing “unprecedented challenges,” domestic support is crucial for long-term resilience. The government’s push for clarity from the US underscores the high stakes for British manufacturing jobs.