Former US President Donald Trump has warned that it is “very dangerous” for the UK to engage more deeply with China, amid Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s ongoing trip to Beijing aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
Trump made the remarks at the premiere of a documentary about his wife Melania, when asked about Britain’s recent agreements with China. He expressed concern over the UK’s increased business and investment dealings, describing such moves as potentially risky.
“Well, it’s very dangerous for them to do that,” Trump stated. Downing Street responded, noting that Washington was aware of the UK’s trip and its objectives in advance. The UK government also pointed out that Trump is scheduled to visit China himself in April.
In addition to commenting on the UK, Trump shifted focus to Canada, warning that relations with Beijing could be even more perilous for its northern neighbor. “Canada is not doing well. They’re doing very poorly, and you can’t look at China as the answer,” he said. Earlier this week, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canada over recent economic deals made with China during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to Beijing.
Sir Keir Starmer’s trip has seen positive outcomes so far, including agreements on visa-free travel, reduced whisky tariffs, and a £10.9 billion investment by AstraZeneca to establish manufacturing facilities in China. The UK leader also discussed cooperation on issues like organized crime and illegal immigration during meetings at the Great Hall of the People.
The British Chamber of Commerce in China’s chair, Chris Torrens, praised Sir Keir’s visit as “successful,” emphasizing that it makes sense for the UK to engage with China as one of its major trading partners. Torrens noted that other Western leaders, including Trump, have recently visited Beijing or are scheduled to do so, with Trump expected in April.
However, the trip has faced criticism from opposition MPs. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused Sir Keir of “kowtowing to President Xi” and warned that the government might be sacrificing national security for economic gains.
According to the Department for Business and Trade, the US was the UK’s largest trading partner in 2025, while China ranked fourth.