UK Chancellor Reeves Warns Against Disengaging From China Amid US Trade Talks

British Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned that it would be 'very foolish' for the UK to disengage from China, highlighting the importance of economic cooperation with the world's second-largest economy. Reeves rejected the idea of limiting UK-China engagement to appease US trade policy, emphasizing her government's commitment to deepening trade and financial ties with China. Ahead of trade talks in Washington, she pointed to her recent visit to China, which secured a deal estimated at £600 million for British firms, and expressed support for Chinese companies like fast fashion retailer Shein listing on the London Stock Exchange. Reeves also voiced willingness to engage in Chinese-made technologies, such as electric vehicles, despite security concerns. These positions set the UK government on a different course from US efforts to isolate Beijing, underlining Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s agenda to strengthen Sino-British relations.