Following the resolution of the S232 tariff dispute by the
Secretary of State earlier this year, from today [Weds 1 June] UK
steel and aluminium exporters can start exporting tariff-free up
to a specified volume to our largest trading partner for the
first time since 2018.
The lifting of tariffs has been hailed as a huge win by UK
steelmakers and will bring new business opportunities for
companies across the supply chain which employs 80,000 people.
In tandem, the UK will end its rebalancing measures on a wide
variety of US products including whiskey, Levi’s jeans and Harley
Davidson’s motorcycles.
The Secretary of State for International Trade said:
From today, our UK steel and aluminium exporters can also get
back to exporting across the Atlantic to our largest trading
partner.
Lifting the tariffs also means imports of US products will be
cheaper to import, lowering costs for UK consumers and
businesses.
It’s exciting to see how our thriving transatlantic trade
relationship is creating brilliant opportunities for UK
businesses, supporting jobs and driving economic growth.
The resolution is a prime example of how the Department for
International Trade (DIT) is helping businesses access the
benefits of free trade, as the department continues breaking down
trade barriers. From removing restrictions on high-quality Welsh
lamb and Scottish beef to reaching an understanding on the
longstanding Airbus-Boeing dispute to remove 25% tariffs on
Scotch whisky.
Three whiskey lovers are toasting the lifting of trans-Atlantic
tariffs on their favourite tipple by launching the first ever
bourbon to be finished in England.
Martha Dalton, David Wild and Fran O’Leary, have set
up Never Say
Die to ship supplies of the iconic liquor distilled in
Kentucky over to the UK to be matured and then sold.
This will be the first time that bourbon, distilled and matured
in Kentucky, will be ocean aged on a six-week trip across the
Atlantic, and then matured in barrels in Derbyshire to give it a
unique, British finish.
David Wild, Co-Founder of Never Say Die, said:
We’re very grateful to for her work to remove
the tariffs on American whiskey, which were damaging to both the
UK and the US industries.
DIT made it possible for us to ship our bourbon over to the UK,
with the first barrels set to be shipped today, and launch our
brand, investing and creating jobs in the UK.
Commenting on the implementation of the UK-US Section 232 deal,
UK Steel Director General Gareth Stace said:
This is a significant day for the UK steel companies and their
customers in the US. The implementation of this hard-fought deal
marks a major improvement in the trading environment for UK
sector and our thanks go to the Secretary of State and her team
for getting this deal over the line and into effect.
From today UK steel producers will again be able to sell steel to
American consumers tariff free giving them a critical competitive
advantage over global competitors and allowing them to recover
market share lost in the years since tariffs were imposed. Today
marks the start of a comeback for UK steel in the US, and we
welcome the reopening of this important market for UK producers
once again.
The UK’s whisky industry is thriving and the fact companies are
making moves into the Bourbon market is testament to that.
Whisky exports rose nearly 20% last year to £4.6 billion – of
which over £820 million-worth went to the US, making it our
biggest food and drink export both Stateside and internationally.
US spirits company Brown-Forman, which owns three of Scotland’s
top distilleries GlenDronach, Benriach and Glenglassaugh also
hailed the resolution of the S232 tariffs dispute. The firm,
which employs hundreds of people in the UK, revealed that it is
planning a multi-million pound investment in its Scottish
facilities.
About Never Say Die
Never Say Die was founded in 2017 by Pat Madden, Brian Luftman,
Shane Baker, Pat Heist, Martha Dalton, Fran O’Leary and David
Wild. Never Say Die is the English take on the American Dream.
