A fresh diplomatic rift is emerging as U.S. President Donald Trump warned Britain against deepening ties with China, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised progress made during talks in Beijing aimed at resetting relations.
U.S. President Donald Trump cautioned Britain against doing business with Beijing, reacting to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s efforts to strengthen economic ties with China.
“Well, it’s very dangerous for them to do that,” Trump told reporters in Washington ahead of the premiere of the Melania film at the Kennedy Center. He did not elaborate on the warning.
Starmer was in Beijing on Friday after holding three-hour talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping a day earlier.
During the meeting, the British leader called for a “more sophisticated relationship” with China, seeking improved market access, lower tariffs, and new investment deals. The talks also touched on cultural topics, including soccer and Shakespeare.
Starmer has become the first British prime minister to visit China since 2018, marking a significant diplomatic step amid shifting global alliances.
His visit comes as Western leaders grapple with Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy moves, including tariff threats and comments on Greenland that have unsettled U.S. allies.
Business deals and symbolic wins
Speaking at the UK-China Business Forum in Beijing, Starmer described his meetings with Xi as “very warm” and said they delivered “just the level of engagement that we hoped for.”
He highlighted agreements on visa-free travel and reduced whisky tariffs, calling them “really important access” and symbolic of renewed trust between the two countries.
Starmer stressed that Britain would not be forced to choose between Washington and Beijing.
“The relationship we have with the United States is one of the closest we hold,” he said, citing defence, security, intelligence, and trade ties. He also pointed to Trump’s September visit to Britain, which unveiled £150 billion in U.S. investment.
Trump’s pressure on allies raises stakes
Trump, who plans to visit China in April, recently threatened tariffs on Canada after Prime Minister Mark Carney struck economic deals with Beijing.
His on-off tariff threats and past remarks about annexing Greenland have rattled long-standing allies, including Britain.
Before Trump’s comments, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressed doubt that Britain’s outreach to China would pay off.
“The Chinese are the greatest exporters and they are very, very difficult when you’re trying to export to them,” Lutnick said, adding that success for British exporters was “unlikely.”
While Starmer typically avoids public criticism of Trump, he has pushed back more openly in recent weeks.
He urged Trump to apologise for what he called “frankly appalling” remarks suggesting some NATO troops avoided frontline combat and said he would not bow to U.S. pressure over Greenland.
Starmer joins a growing list of Western leaders engaging China diplomatically. French President Emmanuel Macron visited Beijing in December, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to travel soon, and Canada’s recent outreach has already drawn Trump’s ire.
