Trump cautions Britain against China ties as Starmer pursues trade and diplomacy in Beijing
Donald Trump has reportedly warned that it would be “very dangerous” for the United Kingdom to do business with China, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer presses ahead with efforts to stabilise and expand relations with Beijing.
The comments came after Britain and China announced a series of measures aimed at easing years of strained ties, including trade concessions and expanded travel access. Trump’s remarks were delivered on the sidelines of a public appearance in Washington, where he was asked about Starmer’s engagement with China during the British leader’s visit to Beijing.
According to reports, Trump cautioned that deepening economic links with China posed serious risks for Britain, echoing his long-standing scepticism of Western cooperation with Beijing. The warning follows a high-profile meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Starmer, described by officials as a step towards rebuilding a long-term strategic relationship.
Starmer is on a four-day visit to China, the first by a British prime minister in eight years, signalling a significant diplomatic shift after a prolonged freeze in high-level engagement. The trip includes talks on trade, investment and political cooperation, alongside ceremonial events and meetings with senior Chinese officials.
During the visit, China confirmed that British citizens would be allowed visa-free travel for stays of up to 30 days and agreed to cut import tariffs on British whisky from 10% to 5%. Downing Street described the measures as an important signal of renewed cooperation. At the same time, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced plans to invest $15 billion in China by 2030, expanding its manufacturing and research operations in the country.
Starmer has travelled with a delegation of nearly 60 senior business figures and organisational leaders, underlining the economic focus of the trip. He praised the agreements reached so far, calling them meaningful progress and symbolic of a broader attempt to reset the relationship between London and Beijing.
Before departing for China, Starmer said Britain would not be forced to choose between its relationship with the United States and closer engagement with China. He stressed that strong economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing could coexist with the UK’s longstanding alliance with Washington, including cooperation on security and defence.
Trump’s warning extended beyond Britain. He also criticised Canada’s recent moves to strengthen trade ties with China, describing such efforts as even more dangerous. He suggested that Beijing could use economic relationships as leverage and claimed that countries turning to China for trade solutions were making a serious mistake.
Trump has previously threatened steep tariffs on allies who deepen trade cooperation with China, reinforcing his confrontational approach to Beijing and signalling that closer alignment with China could strain relations with Washington.
Political analysts say Britain’s position reflects a broader trend among middle-power nations attempting to rebalance their foreign relations amid global uncertainty and shifting US policy. Rather than a full realignment, Starmer’s approach appears focused on pragmatic engagement, pursuing economic opportunities while avoiding a complete diplomatic reset that could provoke backlash from allies.
The UK’s renewed engagement mirrors similar moves by other Western leaders who have visited Beijing in recent months, as governments seek to diversify partnerships and reduce over-reliance on any single global power.
While Trump’s warning highlights the tensions inherent in this strategy, Starmer’s visit suggests Britain is prepared to navigate a careful path between economic opportunity and geopolitical risk, even as pressure from Washington intensifies.