Starmer brushes off Donald Trump’s declare that it’s ‘very harmful’ for the UK to do enterprise with China as PM says it might be ‘foolhardy’ to not
Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed criticism from Donald Trump for seeking closer ties with China.
The Prime Minister said it would be ‘foolhardy’ not to do business with the world’s second largest economy, despite the US President warning it was ‘very dangerous’.
He also claimed Mr Trump was referring more to Canada, which he has threatened with 100 per cent tariffs for discussing a free trade deal with President Xi Jinping.
The Prime Minister’s comments came as Downing Street announced his visit to Beijing would yield £2 billion in export deals and investments in the UK – including from the cult Labubu toy brand – following criticism he had come away empty-handed.
When asked what he made of President Trump’s claim that ‘it’s very dangerous’ for the UK to do business with China, Sir Keir told the BBC: ‘This visit has been a real success, particularly in opening up the market. We have a business delegation of 60 leaders and you only need to spend five minutes with them to see what a difference it will make to our economy back home.’
He said Mr Trump’s comments ‘look to me as if they are directed more [towards] the Canadians than us’, adding: ‘The US/UK relationship is very close so we discussed this visit with his team before we came on the visit.’
Sir Keir continued: ‘Given China is the second biggest economy in the world, and our third biggest trading partner, if you take Hong Kong as well, it’s foolhardy to sit with your head in the sand and refuse to engage.’
It marks the third time in less than a fortnight that the PM has publicly disagreed with Mr Trump, following their disputes over Greenland and the sacrifices made by Nato troops in Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister said it would be ‘foolhardy’ not to do business with the world’s second largest economy, despite the US President warning it was ‘very dangerous’
It marks the third time in less than a fortnight that the PM has publicly disagreed with Mr Trump, following their disputes over Greenland and the sacrifices made by Nato troops in Afghanistan
Sir Keir also said he’d be happy to take his own family on holiday to China after agreeing a deal to scrap visas for business people and visitors staying for fewer than 30 days. He also insisted his team took ‘the necessary precautions’ for security before the visit, understood to mean taking ‘burner’ phones containing no sensitive information, but said he was not advised to get dressed under the bedcovers as former PM Theresa May had been.
‘No, I wasn’t, and I didn’t,’ he told Sky News.
As his China trip ended, Downing Street announced that ‘over the course of the visit, the PM welcomed £2.2 billion in export deals, around £2.3 billion in market access wins over five years, and hundreds of millions worth of new investments’.
New plans included Chinese company Pop Mart – makers of the viral Labubu dolls – setting up a regional hub in London and opening 27 shops across Europe, with up to seven in England.
Chinese truck and van maker Chery will open its European HQ in Liverpool, while energy storage firm HiTHIUM will bring £200 million and generate 300 jobs.
According to Downing Street, British firms would also increase their presence in China, with bike manufacturer Brompton on course to hit sales of more than £100 million over the next three years, and Glasgow Prestwick Airport announcing £76 million in exports from direct cargo services to China.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: ‘We will leave China having put our relationship with one of the world’s biggest economies on a stronger footing, unlocking billions for the UK, and setting the course for new commercial partnerships.’
