A written Commons question has forced the Government to address the impact of the UK’s incoming 50% steel tariff on a quietly critical piece of sovereign defence capability: ball bearings. The Department for Business and Trade response confirms extensive industry engagement but stops short of a specific impact assessment – and for the UK defence supply chain, that gap carries real commercial consequence. Dame Harriett Baldwin (Conservative, West Worcestershire) tabled the written question asking the Secretary of State for Business and Trade what assessment had been made of the tariff’s potential effect on the UK’s ability to manufacture ball bearings…
