Britain presses U.S. for rapid move on steel, aluminum fares

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A senior British official said that Britain’s trade minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, will press US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Wednesday to start formal talks on lowering tariffs on steel and aluminum before the end of the year.

The decision comes after Trevelyan informed lead U.S. trade negotiator Katherine Tai in Washington on Tuesday that pressure in Britain was mounting for a raise in its retaliatory tariffs on whiskey and other U.S. exports unless a quick solution was reached to relieve the US measures, according to the official.

Trevelyan will reiterate that message at a meeting with Raimondo set on Wednesday in the United States capital, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Britain, which will leave the European Union on January 31, 2020, is eager to join a US-EU accord reached in October that enables duty free access for “limited amounts” of EU-produced metals into the US while maintaining US “Section 232” tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum.

From January 1, when tariffs on EU goods are reduced as a result of the US-EU agreement, British businesses will face increased pressure. After the EU reached an agreement with Washington, retaliatory tariffs against the US were suspended.

Story by : Norvisi Mawunyegah