U.S. tariff relief has stalled, and global trading partners are becoming impatient.

Washington is facing increasing pressure from global trade partners to fulfill its long-standing commitments to tariff reductions. The measures to reduce tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles announced months ago have yet to be implemented, causing European, Asian, and UK companies to struggle under US trade restrictions.

In May of this year, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed this "world-leading" agreement reached with US President Donald Trump at the Jaguar Land Rover factory. He stated that the agreement would eliminate tariffs imposed by the US on UK steel.

However, three months have passed, and nothing has changed. The tariff on UK steel remains at 25%. Peter Brennan, head of trade and economic policy at UK Steel, stated that orders from the United States have "plummeted." He claimed that some companies will not be able to survive this crisis. On the other hand, a competitor's stance is more pessimistic, claiming that without assistance, these companies may be forced to close by the end of the year.

The delay is due to the U.S. "melt-pour" rule, which only allows for tariff reductions on steel that is completely produced within the UK. Since Tata Steel UK closed its blast furnace last year, it will not meet this requirement until its new electric arc furnace facility is operational in 2027. London has been urging Washington to grant an exemption, but negotiations are progressing slowly.

Tim Rat from Tata Steel stated that this is not due to a lack of effort from the UK government, but rather because various U.S. departments are overwhelmed. He pointed out that while potential opportunities worth billions for UK exporters are at risk, these opportunities have yet to materialize. London officials insist that they are working hard to finalize an agreement as soon as possible, but industry insiders warn that continued delays may hinder unilateral action.

Countries like the EU are calling for a rapid reduction of tariffs.

The European Union is also in a similar predicament. Whether an agreement is reached or not: In July last year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shook hands with Trump in Scotland over a 15% tariff cap, and Brussels also acknowledged that this cap would reduce automobile production.

However, reality seems to be otherwise. However, the United States still imposes a 50% tariff on EU steel and a 25% tariff on automobiles. German automakers are sounding the alarm. Hildegard Müller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), stated that so far, the agreement has not provided any clear information or relief for German automakers. She indicated that this has caused them billions of dollars in losses.

Japan and South Korea signed an agreement with Washington in July. It is reported that the car tariffs will be reduced to 15%, and the steel tariffs will also be lowered. However, the treatment of cars is different, as Japanese and South Korean car manufacturers still have to pay a 25% tariff.

Japan's chief trade negotiator, Akizawa Yoshinari, stated: "We are still seeing the impacts; the losses have not stopped yet." Fried mentioned that he believes a Japanese automaker is losing nearly 100 million yen (680,000 USD) per hour due to tariff pressures.

South Korea is one of the countries actively promoting tax cuts. Bloomberg Industry Research estimates that Hyundai and Kia's additional spending this year could reach as high as $5 billion. The squeeze on profit margins and weak global demand have also impacted the 15% tariff.

The U.S. hinted at imposing more tariffs, while Canada levied a direct current tariff.

Washington not only did not lower tariffs, but instead went in the opposite direction; the latest measures not only did not cancel tariffs, but also imposed additional tariffs on Chinese imports. Just a few weeks ago, on August 15, Washington expanded the tariff list to nearly 300 new codes for steel and aluminum products, covering 50% of U.S. tariffs. This expansion took effect immediately.

This adjustment has angered those partners hoping for concessions from the EU. EU officials have attributed the shelving of the joint statement promised with Washington to disagreements over digital trade rules. These countries – Japan and South Korea – have been waiting for an executive order to implement tariff reductions.

Critics are beginning to question Washington's commitment. Former EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström stated that permanent delays must be avoided to prevent the process from devolving into endless negotiations and excessive obstruction.