The White House has once again blocked the renewal of a key North American trade agreement, marking the third rejection in as many months. The decision, announced late Thursday, has sent shockwaves through industrial heartlands already battered by supply chain disruptions and rising costs.
For workers in the north of England, this is no abstract geopolitical manoeuvre. It hits the kitchen table. The blocked deal affects imports of steel and aluminium, sectors where thousands of jobs hang in the balance. Union leaders warn of potential layoffs if the impasse persists.
John Bradley, a shop steward at a Sheffield steel plant, said: "We thought the worst was over after the last recession. Now this. It feels like we're being used as pawns in a game we don't understand."
The US administration cited unresolved disputes over digital services and agricultural standards. But critics argue the real reason is domestic political posturing ahead of midterm elections. The previous two rejections came with vague promises of a revised text, but no concrete proposals.
Economist Dr. Helen Granger of the University of Manchester said: "Each delay adds uncertainty. Firms cannot plan. Investment freezes. And it's ordinary workers who pay the price. Wage growth will stall, and the cost of imported goods will rise."
Meanwhile, the pound has slipped against the dollar, pushing up petrol prices and import costs. For families already struggling with energy bills, this is another squeeze.
The government has pledged to negotiate a bilateral deal with Canada, but officials admit that will take months. In the meantime, factory floors across the Midlands and the North are bracing for impact.
As one union official put it: "We need a deal that puts people before politics. Not this endless, damaging chaos."
