Trump says ‘very dangerous’ for UK to do business with China as Starmer lands in Shanghai

Donald Trump said it was “very dangerous” for the UK to do business with China, as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Shanghai on the third day of his visit to the country.

The US president was reacting to agreements aimed at increasing business and investment between the UK and China, announced after Sir Keir met Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Speaking at the premiere of a documentary about his wife Melania on Thursday, Trump went on to refer to Xi as a “friend” of his and said he knew the Chinese president “very well”.

UK business minister Sir Chris Bryant said Trump was “wrong” and it would be “bonkers frankly for the UK to ignore the presence of China on the world stage”.

An agreement aimed at tackling organised crime and illegal immigration will see the UK and China share intelligence to identify the supply routes of people smugglers.

The UK government says the inflatable dinghies used in small boat crossings often contain parts sourced in China.

Other deals include an agreement to co-operate on reducing red tape for UK exporters and collaborate on health challenges such as antimicrobial resistance.