Donald Trump’s ‘very harmful’ UK declare slammed as ‘completely bonkers’
Trade minister Sir Chris Bryant said it would be “absolutely bonkers” for the UK not to engage with China after the US President expressed disapproval of Keir Starmer’s trip
Donald Trump blasted Keir Starmer’s “very dangerous” efforts to seek closer ties with China(Image: Getty Images)
Donald Trump is “wrong” to say it is dangerous for the UK to trade with China, a minister has said.
Trade minister Sir Chris Bryant said it would be “absolutely bonkers” for the UK not to engage with China after the US President expressed disapproval of Keir Starmer’s trip to the country.
Asked if the US president’s comments were wrong, Sir Chris told BBC Breakfast: “Yes, he is wrong, and I say this precisely because, apart from anything else, he himself said in his own statement that he is a friend with President Xi, and as I understand it, President Trump is going to China himself in April.”
Sir Chris added to Sky News: “I agree that you of course you have to go into your relationship with China with your eyes wide open. You have to challenge China on the issues where we disagree with them and but you have to face the fact that China is a major power in the world.
READ MORE: Donald Trump takes aim at Keir Starmer in scathing tirade amid his China visit
“It’s the second largest economy in the world, and it’s our fourth largest export market. So it would be absolutely bonkers to the UK not to engage with China.”
Overnight, Mr Trump blasted Mr Starmer’s “very dangerous” efforts to seek closer ties with China. The PM – who is still in the country as part of a three-day trip – held warm talks with US President Xi Jinping on Thursday, with both leaders agreeing to deepen their alliance.
But Mr Trump took a swipe at the visit as he spoke to reporters during the premier of the Melanie movie. Asked for his views on the UK getting into business with China, he said: “Well, it’s very dangerous for them to do that, and it’s even more dangerous, I think, for Canada to get into business with China. Canada is not doing well.
“They’re doing very poorly, and you can’t look at China as the answer. I know China very well. I know President Xi is a friend of mine. I know him very well. But that’s a, that’s a big hurdle to go over when you get Canada.”
Mr Trump has threatened Canada with 100% tariffs over a potential trade deal with China.
In a significant move during his trip, Mr Starmer sealed a deal with China to allow Brits to travel visa-free for up to 30 days to the country. Elsewhere he secured an agreement for tariffs on whisky to halve from 10% to 5% in a boost of £250million over five years to the industry, as China is Scotland’s 10th largest market for whisky.
Both sides also agreed to work towards an agreement on services to set clear rules for UK firms doing business in China.
The PM also announced a new border security deal to crack down on people smuggling gangs. It will include joint UK-Chinese law enforcement action to disrupt the supply of small boat parts used by vile traffickers to ferry asylum seekers across the Channel.
Sir Chris said: “I defy anybody in the world, certainly in the UK, to spend an hour of their day without some involvement with China, whether it’s your phone, it’s your Fitbit, it’s the clothes you wear, the makeup brushes you use, the light fittings, whatever it may be.
“China is just a part of our life, and we need to deal with our eyes wide open. That’s why I’m really glad we’ve managed, first of all, to get a really good deal on security.
“So that’s not only dealing with Chinese gangs that are passing through fake opioids, but it’s also making sure that some of the kit that is used by the small boats that cross from France into the UK, 60% of that has come from China.”
