Andy Burnham faces EU protectionism in debut trade talks

Following Keir Starmer’s resignation in June, the UK government is recalibrating its approach to European relations. Europe minister Hamish Falconer initiated this process on 7 September with a meeting alongside EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. While both sides remain guarded, preparations are underway for a comprehensive summit in November.

Burnham, whose early tenure has centered on national campaigns and domestic renewal, faces a complex reality regarding trade. He has explicitly identified steelmaking and farming as sectors requiring urgent protection against the bloc’s Industrial Accelerator Act. The primary concern in London is that the “Made in Europe” procurement scheme could effectively bar British firms from critical subsidies, placing them at a permanent disadvantage.

The steel industry remains particularly exposed. The UK government, which nationalized British Steel in July, is grappling with the impact of recent EU import caps—a 47 percent reduction in tariff-free quotas intended to curb Chinese oversupply. Having mirrored these cuts with a 51 percent reduction in its own quotas and steep 50 percent duties on excess imports, the UK finds its market maneuvering room increasingly constrained. As the EU continues to roll out major regulatory frameworks like the carbon border adjustment mechanism, the UK faces the difficult task of aligning its standards while struggling to maintain competitive access to its largest trading partner.