U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning that it is “very dangerous” for the United Kingdom to pursue deeper business ties with China, as British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Shanghai on the final day of his high-profile visit to the world’s second-largest economy.
Starmer, the first British prime minister to visit China in eight years, spent much of his trip working to reset economic and diplomatic relations with Beijing after years of tension. In talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, both leaders expressed interest in a long-term, stable strategic partnership that could open new avenues for trade, investment and cooperation.
Despite the diplomatic momentum, Trump — speaking at a public event in Washington — cautioned that closer economic engagement with China carries significant risks. “Well, it’s very dangerous for them to do that,” he told reporters when asked about the UK-China business agreements. He expanded the warning to include Canada, suggesting it would be “even more dangerous” for Ottawa to deepen ties with Beijing.
Starmer’s visit has yielded several tangible outcomes. China agreed to lift travel restrictions on certain British lawmakers that had been imposed amid sanctions over human rights concerns, and also signalled willingness to ease conditions on trade and investment. British companies, including pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, have touted plans for expanded operations and manufacturing in China.
Back in Washington, Trump’s comments underscore ongoing tensions between U.S. and allied approaches to China. The U.S. has maintained a cautious stance toward Beijing amid geopolitical competition, while European partners and Canada have sought to balance economic opportunity with broader strategic concerns.
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In Shanghai, Starmer brushed off the warning, stressing that the UK can pursue economic engagement with China without undermining its alliance with the United States. His office noted that Washington was informed ahead of the trip and highlighted Trump’s own planned visit to China later this year.
Starmer’s mission reflects a broader strategy by Western leaders to navigate a complex global landscape — one in which cooperation with China on trade, technology and infrastructure exists alongside deep disagreements over security, human rights and geopolitical rivalry.