Trump Warns UK: Doing Business with China is "Very Dangerous"
James RileyTrump labels UK and Canadian business overtures to China "very dangerous," threatening tariffs and exposing Western trade rifts.
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to the United Kingdom on Thursday, labeling its new business overtures to China as "very dangerous." The comments came as London and Beijing take significant steps to repair their strained relationship and forge a new long-term strategic partnership.
The diplomatic push is highlighted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's four-day visit to China, the first by a British leader in eight years. Starmer, accompanied by a delegation of nearly 60 business executives, is aiming to reset bilateral ties and unlock new economic opportunities.
U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet amid rising tensions over the U.K.'s new economic outreach to China.
UK's Diplomatic Pivot to Beijing
The meeting between Prime Minister Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping has already produced several key agreements designed to boost economic ties. According to Downing Street, the new measures include:
• Tariff Reduction: China has agreed to cut its import tariffs on British whisky in half, from 10% down to 5%.
• Visa-Free Travel: British nationals will be granted visa-free travel to China for stays of up to 30 days.
• Major Investment: British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced it will invest $15 billion in China through 2030.
When asked about Starmer's efforts, Trump told Reuters, "it's very dangerous for them to do that."
Canada Faces Similar Rebuke Over China Deal
The U.K.'s diplomatic strategy mirrors a similar move by Canada, which signed its own trade agreement with China earlier this month. The visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney signaled Ottawa's intent to diversify its trade partners amid ongoing friction with Washington.
Trump directed an even stronger warning toward Canada, stating it was "even more dangerous for Canada to get into business with China." He added, "Canada is not doing well... You can't look at China as the answer."
In a sharp reversal of his previous stance, Trump has threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Canadian goods if Ottawa proceeds with the China trade deal.
"President Xi is a friend of mine, I know him very well," Trump said, before adding an unusual warning. "The first thing they're going to do is say you're not allowed to play ice hockey anymore. Canada's not going to like that."
