Let Trump's tariffs be a wake up call for the North East

The Government is right to be doing all that it can to mitigate Trump’s tariffs. But no matter what happens next, these tariffs make the need for an ambitious, homegrown industrial strategy even more urgent. One that builds our resilience, grows our regional economies, and delivers good, secure jobs.   

The good news is that the North is already making strides. According to recent IPPR research, our region is already leading the way – producing half of England’s renewable energy and employing over a third of the UK’s low-carbon workforce. From wind manufacturing in Teesside to low-carbon transport hubs in West Yorkshire, we have the skills, supply chains and ambition to drive the UK’s industrial renaissance and its transition to net zero.    

But potential alone won’t be enough. We need national government to match our determination with long-term investment and a real partnership with local leaders, trade unions, and businesses. 

That means an industrial strategy rooted in the strengths of our regions, not written in a Whitehall boardroom. And it must go beyond warm words – with proper funding, powers devolved to metro mayors, and a plan to train and support the workers who will lead this industrial renaissance.   

And the British public back it too. A clear majority agree that we should invest in UK manufacturing like clean steel, next-generation cars and modern trains, to reduce reliance on foreign imports and create jobs right here in the UK. 

It’s so important we get this right. There are 800,000 jobs in UK high-carbon manufacturing at risk of being offshored to other countries if investment in decarbonisation is too slow.   

And the lessons of recent history offer a stark reminder of what’s at stake. The deindustrialisation in the 80s under Thatcher hammered the North – with too little thought given to what would replace the jobs lost. 

We must make sure that doesn’t happen again. A modern industrial strategy can ensure that the next chapter of British manufacturing is written in places like Hull, Sheffield, Middlesbrough and Sunderland – not left to the whims of international markets.   

The Labour government’s green paper on industrial strategy is a step in the right direction. 

But now is the moment to be bold. A pathfinding approach – combining national direction with local insight – is how we make this work.

That means recognising the comparative advantages our regions already have, and investing at scale to turn potential into prosperity. 

Trump’s tariffs put into focus the importance of an industrial strategy with good jobs at its heart.   

With the right plan, backed by real resources and rooted in our regions, we can build an economy that is fairer and more secure – and ensure that working people across the North get the decent, secure jobs they deserve.

Originally published 7 April 2025, Chronicle Live