Trade Partners Losing Patience: U.S. Tariff Relief Stalls

Washington is facing mounting pressure from global partners as the long-promised tariff cuts on steel, aluminum, and automobiles remain unfulfilled. Despite deals announced months ago, tariffs are unchanged, leaving European, Asian, and British companies struggling with U.S. trade barriers.

Britain Stuck With 25% Tariff When British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed a “world-leading” deal with President Donald Trump at a Jaguar Land Rover plant in May, he expected swift relief. But the reality is different: tariffs on British steel remain at 25%. Peter Brennan of UK Steel warned that orders from the U.S. have collapsed and some companies are already fighting for survival. The issue lies in America’s “melt and pour” rule, which requires steel to be fully produced in the UK. This is impossible since Tata Steel UK shut down its blast furnaces last year, and new electric arc furnaces won’t be operational until 2027. London is pushing for exemptions, but negotiations are moving at a snail’s pace.

European Union in the Same Trap The EU is facing similar frustrations. Although European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed a symbolic deal with Trump last year on a 15% tariff cap, U.S. duties of 50% on steel and 25% on cars remain in place. German carmakers are sounding the alarm – VDA president Hildegard Müller says the tariffs are costing them billions, with no sign of relief.

Asia Under Pressure Japan and South Korea are also suffering despite deals with Washington. While tariffs on cars were supposed to drop to 15%, in practice the 25% duty remains in effect, heavily impacting auto manufacturers. Japan’s chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said some carmakers are losing up to $680,000 every hour due to tariff burdens. Bloomberg estimates Hyundai and Kia could face as much as $5 billion in extra costs this year.

Washington Moves the Other Way Instead of easing tariffs, the U.S. recently expanded duties to cover 300 new categories of steel and aluminum products, now encompassing 50% of imports. The move has angered the EU, Japan, and South Korea, who were expecting relief rather than escalation. Former EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström warned that prolonged delays risk turning the process into endless negotiations and an obstruction mechanism if Washington doesn’t follow through on its commitments.

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