| By Jonathan Ferreira |
Donald Trump has warned that it would be “very dangerous” for the United Kingdom to do business with China, as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Shanghai during the final stage of his visit. The US president made the remarks after the UK announced new agreements with China aimed at boosting trade and investment following talks between Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Speaking at a film premiere in Washington, Trump said he knew Xi well and described him as a friend, but cautioned against closer economic ties. UK business minister Sir Chris Bryant dismissed the comments, arguing it would be unrealistic for Britain to ignore China’s global economic role.
Downing Street indicated that the United States had been aware of the visit and its objectives in advance. Sir Keir said his meetings with Xi had been constructive and delivered the level of engagement Britain had hoped for. During the trip, the UK and China agreed measures including visa free travel, reduced tariffs on whisky, and a £10.9bn investment by AstraZeneca to expand manufacturing in China. Both sides also agreed to co-operate on tackling organised crime and illegal immigration, sharing intelligence on smuggling routes. The UK government said equipment used in small boat crossings often contains parts sourced in China, making cooperation important.
Trump also warned Canada against pursuing closer economic links with Beijing and repeated earlier threats of tariffs. Despite this, business leaders have welcomed the UK visit, noting China remains one of Britain’s largest trading partners. Critics in Parliament have raised concerns about national security and China’s human rights record, including treatment of Uyghur Muslims and Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai. Opposition figures accused the government of prioritising economic gains over security. Ministers insist risks are being carefully managed, with intelligence agencies involved in key decisions. Sir Keir is expected to argue that engagement, even where differences exist, better serves British interests than isolation.
