Business Secretary Peter Kyle said talks on relieving tariffs on UK steel are under way, and an announcement will be made ‘as soon as possible’. The government has not yet secured relief, despite a June trade deal that cut tariffs on car and aerospace imports to the United States while leaving UK steel tariffs at 25%. The sticking points are understood to relate to US worries about steel products that are made elsewhere and finished in Britain.

MPs have urged Downing Street to press Washington ahead of Donald Trump’s state visit to secure a lasting deal. In an interview on BBC’s Sunday Morning with Laura Kuenssberg, Kyle said the UK steel industry is ‘better protected than any other around the world’ and that the benefits must be secured in a sustainable, long-term way. He said he had travelled to Washington after being appointed in the cabinet reshuffle and that he was in the White House on Monday discussing the issue, adding that negotiations are ongoing and that an announcement on steel would come soon.

The Commons Business and Trade Committee said the visit next week is the moment to press the US president to finalise the terms of the economic prosperity deal. In a report the committee welcomed swift tariff relief for key sectors but urged the Government to seal deals on aluminium and pharmaceuticals and to ensure terms reflect UK supply chains and the transition to low-carbon production. It also urged the UK to leverage the US partnership to gain an edge over China in AI and defence technology, while de-risking supply chains and securing security for critical minerals. The Department for Business and Trade said investments by US firms total about £1.25 billion ahead of Mr Trump’s visit, with trade expected to reach around £20 billion, comprising roughly £8 billion to the UK and £12 billion to the US. Tech giants OpenAI and Nvidia are reportedly planning large investments in UK data centres during the visit, with Sam Altman and Jensen Huang part of a delegation. The US president’s two-day trip begins on Wednesday and includes an overnight stay at Windsor Castle.