(Jan 27) : Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK wouldn’t have to choose between the US and China, as he heralded “significant opportunities” for British businesses ahead of his trip to Beijing this week. In an interview with Bloomberg on Monday, Starmer dismissed questions about whether he was seeking stronger ties with China at the expense of the UK’s relationship with its closest allies. Starmer insisted the UK could meet President Xi Jinping without angering Trump or harming relations with the US, rejecting the idea he’d have to make trade-offs in his approach to the two countries. The UK had $93 billion in trade with with China in 2024, compared to $141 billion with the US. Starmer says he will raise such concerns when he meets with Chinese leaders including President Xi Jinping this week, but he’s clearly prioritizing the economic relationship.

Source: The Edge Markets January 26, 2026 22:44 UTC