A decision to scrap tariffs for a range of goods exported from the UK to the USA has been welcomed by Philip Dunne MP.

International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, has announced the United States is temporarily suspending all retaliatory tariffs on direct exports from the UK to the US resulting from the Boeing/Airbus dispute for four months, in an effort to reach a negotiated solution to the 16- year long dispute. This measure will come into force on Monday 8 March, backdated to 4 March.

Mr Dunne welcomed the news, which will benefit South Shropshire exporters, saying:

“The decision to scrap these retaliatory tariffs is extremely welcome, and shows the decision by the UK to remove Boeing tariffs in January to show good faith was the right move. This will be a great benefit to local employers who export to the USA, as well as South Shropshire businesses looking for new markets. The Department for International Trade are now working on removing the different tariffs for aluminium and steel, which would be particularly good news for Bridgnorth Aluminium, the largest employer in the Ludlow Constituency.

“I am hosting an event with the Department for International Trade to give free exporting advice to local businesses on 19th March. I encourage local businesses to sign up to learn more about exporting to the USA and the wider world.”

For more information and for businesses to register their interest, please visit: https://www.events.great.gov.uk/parliamentary-export-programme.

The UK will continue to engage with the US to agree a fair settlement to the dispute, that permanently removes punitive tariffs and works for the whole of the UK. This would benefit the UK’s aerospace industry which employs people across the country – a point highlighted by Mr Dunne’s 2018 report for the Secretary of State for Defence on Growing the Contribution of Defence to UK prosperity.

Separately, the UK and US are continuing to work towards an ambitious trade deal, which could eliminate almost £500m in tariffs on UK exports to the US.