United States President Donald Trump will be forced to back down on tariffs on goods such as steel and aluminium because it will ultimately hurt his voters, Britain’s Investment Minister Graham Stuart says.

Mr Stuart, who was in Australia this week to increase investment ties between the United Kingdom and Australia, said Mr Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on steel, in which Australia was spared, would also likely carve out Britain.

Mr Trump has previously indicated nations who are “friends” and that spend big on defence could be spared from the tariffs.

Britain’s Investment Minister Graham Stuart was in Australia this week to increase investment ties between the UK and Australia. Credit:Simon Schluter

But the trade war with China continues, and has spooked financial markets and increased concerns about global instability.