North Lincolnshire Council leader Rob Waltham has urged the UK government to protect its steel industry in response to President Trump's new tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.
The tariffs, which took effect today, have already prompted swift retaliation from the European Union.
Waltham told GB News the Government should ensure "an even playing field for steel making in this country" by controlling energy prices and securing market access.
The leader of North Lincolnshire Council told GB News: "A lot unknown about what President Trump's trying to achieve with this.
Rob Waltham has said that we need to do the same
GB NEWS
"Clearly, he's trying to protect his own steel industry when the government here should be doing exactly the same as he's doing, not by setting tariffs, but by making sure there's an even playing field for steel making in this country.
"That means controlling energy prices, making sure we can have access to markets.
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"And if I was Keir Starmer today, what I'd be doing is getting on a plane, going to see President Trump, showing how our world class steel is important to his economy.
"Show how he's going to need it for construction and for making sure that you'll need it for his railway investment that he's trying to continue with.
"And also, more importantly, that would enable us to protect jobs here in Scunthorpe."
President Trump's 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports officially took effect on Wednesday, with no exemptions or exceptions.
The European Union immediately announced retaliatory countermeasures worth €26 billion, set to begin on 1 April.
UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds described the tariffs as "disappointing" but did not announce immediate countermeasures.
Despite the US being the UK steel industry's second-biggest export market, Reynolds said the government was "focused on a pragmatic approach".
This comes as Britain seeks to negotiate a broader economic deal with the White House.
Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports
REUTERSReynolds stated that "all options were on the table" to respond "in the national interest".
Canada swiftly announced tariffs on almost C$30bn of US goods in response to Trump's measures.
Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc branded the US levies as "completely unjustified, unfair and unreasonable".
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the tariffs "entirely unjustified" and "against the spirit of our two nations' enduring friendship".
