Great Britain’s steel manufacturers are prepared for a sharp escalation of the trade voltages after the United States signaled that they will double the tariffs for the British steel to 50% from Wednesday – despite a recently carried out transatlantic deal for removing such tasks.

The expected increase replaces the 25% tariff that President Trump imposed foreign steel at the beginning of this year, which officially came into force on March 12. Although the Prime Minister announced on May 8 that a breakthrough with the United States had been made with a breakthrough in order to eliminate the steel levy, this agreement must still be completed – and the British steel exports in the balance.

UK Steel, the trade authority of the industry, warned that all British steel manufacturers that export to the United States could be increased by the punishment of new tax within days unless there is urgent clarity. The United States is the UK’s second largest stahlexport market worth around 400 million GBP per year and made 9% of total exports according to value.

Gareth Stace, General Director of UK Steel, described the move as “another body strike” for an industry that had already struggled with global price volatility and increasing production costs.

“British steel companies are afraid this morning that the orders will now be canceled, some of which are likely to be shipped about the Atlantic while speaking,” he said.

Stace warned that the “doubling the tariffs further immersed the British steel industry” and found that the long -promised solution between the two governments has not yet come about. “Uncertainty remains whether and when our second largest export market is open to companies or is closely closed on our faces.”

The 50% tariff is part of a more comprehensive escalation in US protectorism under President Trump, the steel, aluminum and other imports from countries that perform trade surpluses with America. Although a temporary 90-day break for mutual tariffs was announced at the beginning of this month, Great Britain seems to have gotten into a regulatory gap as if civil servants are trying to implement the conditions of the UK-US agreement.

Stace asked the British government to act and to conclude the deal before the new tariffs took up.

“UK Steel is now urging our government to eliminate import tax in Great Britain and urgently enter into force. UK Steelmaker should not have to be released for this new steep hike in US steel tubes. Everything we want is to continue producing the steel. Our US customers appreciate so high.”

Industry leaders fear that the British producers are not ratified if the agreement is not ratified, canceled contracts, lost market shares and long-term damage to their trade relationships with US buyers.

The department for economy and trade has not yet commented on the latest developments.