Will Britain resist US pressure to cut ties with China?
A British government official told the London-based newspaper I. “Our position on China is clear. Trade talks with the US should not affect our policy towards Beijing.” This comes as US President Donald Trump is said to be planning to turn tariff negotiations with more than 70 countries into a tool to isolate China’s economy. Under the plan, countries seeking tariff concessions would have to impose restrictions on Chinese exports or not allow cheap Chinese goods to enter their markets.
The US recently slapped a 125% tariff on all its imports from China, starting a new trade war with Beijing. The White House has also threatened to force countries around the world to choose between the US and China.
The British government has said it intends to continue its “pragmatic” approach towards China despite pressure from Washington. One possible step in this direction is the revival of the Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO), which was suspended in 2018 due to tensions over Hong Kong.
The Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) was established in 2004 to expand trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. The commission, which held regular meetings at the level of economic and trade ministers, played an important role in strengthening economic relations between London and Beijing. However, in 2018, following political tensions arising from the developments in Hong Kong and London’s concerns about Chinese influence in sensitive infrastructure, JETCO’s activities were effectively suspended. Now, the Keir Starmer government is seeking to revive this mechanism to rebuild economic relations with China.
At the same time, relations between London and Beijing have been strained in recent days due to the British government’s interference in the ownership of a steel manufacturing plant owned by the Chinese Jingye Group. The Starmer government took control of the plant by passing emergency laws, citing concerns about the future of the steel industry as the reason for the decision.
The Chinese embassy in London issued a statement describing criticism of some British politicians against Beijing as “ridiculous” and a sign of “arrogance, ignorance, and a perverted mentality.” A spokesman for the Chinese embassy added: “If it were not for the Chinese company’s interference in British Steel, many workers at this plant would be at risk of unemployment today.”
He also pointed to US trade policies, saying: “At a time when the US is pressuring all countries, including the UK, with a tariff stick and resorting to unilateral and coercive trade, some British politicians are destroying the Chinese government and companies instead of criticizing the US. What is their real goal?”
Despite recent stances, British officials are well aware of the economic consequences of completely cutting off relations with China. Eli Rennison, a former official at the UK Department for International Trade, has warned that a complete severance of economic relations with China is unlikely and would not be in the UK’s interests.