Donald Trump yesterday extended his decision deadline over whether or not to continue the exemption of EU countries to his 25 per cent steel and aluminium tariffs into the United States. Let's not play down the business and market uncertainty that tariffs and trade barriers can bring to industries across the board, but particularly export-reliant industries such as steel. This is crucial to Wales's largest industrial centre and one of Wales's largest private employers at Tata in Port Talbot and elsewhere in Wales. 

It's also no secret that the UK Government is desperate to prove it is handling the result of Brexit, and the long-term economic decline it looks set to usher in, by promoting the idea of trade deals across the world. Of course, these will have to be bespoke deals, and, contrary to the economic fantasy world that UKIP and Tories seem to inhabit, where Britain is still a global trading empire, other countries are clearly not queuing up to develop free trade deals with the UK. Theresa May came back empty-handed from India, I think I saw recently.

So, what is of grave concern to me and others, particularly those who work in industries such as steel, is what exactly is going to be given up by the UK Government in order to get some trade deals under their belt. We're all familiar with the prospect of cheap, chemical-filled US food flooding our markets, but what about the insistence by other countries that we sacrifice other areas of our economic base and strength in order to facilitate trade deals? Given that President Trump—to continue to use the example—has shown a propensity for making policy decisions that are entirely related to appeasing his base and little else, it isn't unrealistic to assume that UK steel and other industries could be placed on the table as part of future trade deals. 

It is therefore beyond reckless, in my view, to surrender state-aid and procurement powers as part of this Brexit deal on powers. One of the very few silver linings, I must say, of exiting the EU is that there is a freer hand in terms of state-aid rules and public procurement, which the Welsh Government should have grabbed with both hands, but instead it has been given away. There may well be a sunset clause, but how much power and influence is the Welsh Government truly going to have when it comes to consent arrangements where the decision of the Westminster Tories is one of a UK trade deal? Are they really going to prioritise elements of the Welsh economy so crucial to maintain the fragile economy we have here in Wales?

Let's not forget that, when Tata Steel was faced with the serious threat of closure or major job losses in 2015 and 2016, it was the Welsh Government that committed to state aid as part of a wider package of measures to save the industry here in Wales. Will that power be changed? There were state-aid announcements for steel as part of the most recent budget, as we know. That power will no longer technically reside with the Welsh Government as a result of the EU withdrawal Bill deal—this at a time when many Labour Members are still wearing 'Save Our Steel' badges.

To many people watching what has transpired in recent weeks, it will seem very clear that Labour has decided that key economic intervention powers are better exercised by Westminster, rather than here by themselves and their own Government.