Donald Trump has warned the UK against doing business with China, calling it “very dangerous”, just hours after Keir Starmer hailed progress during a landmark visit to Beijing. The US president’s remarks came as the British prime minister concluded talks with Xi Jinping, securing lower tariffs and improved market access.
Starmer, the first UK prime minister to visit China in eight years, described the relationship as in a “good, strong place” after three hours of talks at the Great Hall of the People. He promised a “more sophisticated” engagement and said the visit had opened up opportunities for jobs and wealth creation.
Responding to Trump’s criticism, Starmer told Sky News it was not wise for the UK to “stick its head in the sand”, noting China is the world’s second-largest economy and the UK’s third-largest trading partner. Trade minister Chris Bryant added that Trump was “wrong”, pointing out that the US president himself plans to visit China in April.
The visit is part of a broader trend of Western leaders seeking to build ties with Beijing to hedge against Trump’s unpredictable trade policies. Earlier, Trump threatened tariffs on Canada over its economic deals with China, and US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick expressed scepticism that Starmer’s efforts would succeed.
