Trump Warns UK Over Closer China Ties

Donald Trump has warned that Britain’s growing business relationship with China is “very dangerous.” He made the comments while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer continued his visit to Beijing.

After the UK and China announced new trade and investment agreements, Trump reacted strongly. He shared his views at a documentary premiere about his wife, Melania.

In response, Downing Street said the US government knew about the visit in advance. Officials also noted that Trump plans to visit China in April.

Meanwhile, Trump later warned Canada about making similar deals with China. According to him, Canada faces even greater risks. Earlier this week, he also threatened to impose tariffs if Canada continued its cooperation with Beijing.

Starmer Reports Positive Talks in Beijing

Sir Keir Starmer said his meetings in China were successful. He added that the UK and China now have a strong and positive relationship.

During his visit, he described his talks with President Xi Jinping as productive. In addition, he said both sides reached the level of cooperation Britain wanted.

At the UK-China Business Forum, Sir Keir explained that the UK has much to offer. As a result, he said both countries made real progress.

Several agreements were signed during the visit. For example, they included visa-free travel and lower whisky tariffs. AstraZeneca also announced a £10.9 billion investment in China.

Furthermore, the two sides agreed to work together on organised crime and illegal immigration.

Business leaders also welcomed the visit. In particular, British Chamber of Commerce chair Chris Torrens called it a success. He said China remains one of the UK’s biggest trading partners.

Opposition Criticism and Trade Impact

However, opposition MPs criticised the visit. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused Sir Keir of putting national security at risk. He also claimed the government was too close to Beijing.

At the same time, experts say the US has criticised other countries for working with China. Nevertheless, the US may still sign its own deal soon.

Later, Sir Keir will visit Shanghai. After that, he will travel to Japan to meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

According to government data, the US was the UK’s biggest trading partner in 2025. Meanwhile, China ranked fourth.