Show mettle over Trump steel tariff
OUR steel industry faces a deadly double threat. US President Donald Trump plans to impose crippling tariffs on imports while, at the same time, Brexit would mean leaving the world’s biggest tariff-free zone – the EU.
This combination could be fatal for steel, British manufacturing and for jobs.
Many in our steel communities voted to leave the EU. They were understandably angry at Tory neglect, so diverted that anger towards Europe. But only the EU has the clout to stand up to Trump’s aggression and Chinese dumping.
Steel is an industry of the future and it can be a great British success story. But first it needs to survive this deadly double threat. Kevin Sullivan, Swansea
# So, Donald Trump is to impose a 25% tariff on steel. The Americans cannot be trusted when it comes to trade. I remember back in the 1970s during the steel crisis when US industry accused British Steel of dumping cheap products when they should have been looking at policies of their own government. The Tories let manufacturers buy steel from China and other places for MoD contracts. If we do any deals with Trump they will backfire. M McAlister Rotherham, South Yorks # As much as I dislike Donald Trump, at least he is actually doing something to protect US industry and jobs. This is more than can be said of May and co who continue to hand out contracts to build warships and other major defence projects to other steelproducing countries. Stephen Macintosh, Sunderland
# President Trump’s crippling tariffs on imported steel and aluminium could start a global trade war on a scale of the one that worsened the Great Depression of the 1930s. But he dismisses the warnings and says “trade wars are easy to GREAT BRIT Owen Pick win” which is typical bluff and bluster from this bully whose word means zilch.
And May wants Trump’s America to be our biggest trading partner after Brexit? Heaven help us. Mick Smith, Doncaster, South Yorks
# So, Tory Brexiteer Liam Fox says Trump’s steel tariffs are “absurd”. He is one of the right-wing Tories who are prepared to give up trade with Europe to deal with this ridiculous man. Europe is not perfect but trading with the devil does not end well. Sandra Rowan, York
# As Trump threatens a 25% tariff on steel imports in the US, he boasts of making America great again. But while he is gung-ho about a trade war, economic experts claim it will be ordinary people who would suffer most.
Prices would rise on all sides and it could even trigger a worldwide economic depression. With the Tories making a complete hash of Brexit, this would really hit us hard. Dave Mellor, Warrington, Cheshire
# With regard to Trump’s recent announcement on 25% steel tariffs and any future trading partnership we may have with the US, it’s clear a great deal for him is a bad deal for us. That is his way. T Ahmadi-Parker, Brighton