US tariffs on steel, aluminium 'disappointing': British business secretary

LONDON -- British Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said on Wednesday that the US imposition of a 25-percent tariff on global steel and aluminum imports was "disappointing," local media reported.

Responding to the tariffs, which took effect earlier in the day, Reynolds stated that the British government was adopting a "pragmatic" approach and was actively negotiating a broader economic deal with the United States to remove the additional tariffs and support British businesses and the economy, according to The Guardian.

"We will keep all options on the table and won't hesitate to respond in the national interest," said the secretary, stressing that the government remains "resolute" in its support for British industry.

No countermeasures have been announced by the British government.