U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Britain against deepening business ties with China, even as Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the economic benefits of resetting relations with Beijing during an official visit on Friday.
Starmer’s trip makes him the latest Western leader to visit China at a time when allies are grappling with Trump’s unpredictable foreign and trade policies.
The British prime minister held three-hour talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, during which he called for a “more sophisticated relationship” between the two countries. Discussions covered improved market access, lower tariffs and new investment deals, alongside lighter topics such as football and Shakespeare.
However, speaking in Washington ahead of the premiere of the Melania film at the Kennedy Center, Trump struck a cautionary tone when asked about the warming UK-China ties.
“Well, it’s very dangerous for them to do that,” Trump told reporters, without elaborating.
Trump, who is expected to travel to China in April, has recently taken a hard line on countries strengthening economic ties with Beijing. Last week, he threatened to impose tariffs on Canada after Prime Minister Mark Carney struck economic agreements with China during a recent visit.
Neither a Downing Street spokesperson nor China’s foreign ministry immediately responded to requests for comment following Trump’s remarks.
Meanwhile in Beijing, Starmer struck a more optimistic note. Addressing a meeting of the UK-China Business Forum, he said his “very warm” discussions with President Xi had delivered “real progress” in relations between both countries.
The prime minister highlighted agreements on visa-free travel and reduced whisky tariffs as key outcomes of the talks, describing them as “really important access, symbolic of what we’re doing with the relationship”.
“That is the way that we build the mutual trust and respect that is so important,” Starmer said.
As part of his visit, Starmer also met Chinese business leaders ahead of a trip to Shanghai. Among them was Yin Tongyue, chief executive of carmaker Chery, which plans to establish a research and development centre for its commercial vehicle arm in Liverpool, according to a city official.
The visit underscores Britain’s efforts to rebalance relations with China in pursuit of economic growth, even as pressure mounts from the United States over engagement with Beijing.
