Lawmakers on the Commons business, innovation, science and trade select committee characterized the UK's China strategy as opaque and reactive, directly undermining prior political commitments for a long-term plan. This lack of strategic direction was underscored by recent ad-hoc interventions, including the emergency takeover of British Steel and the March decision to bar Ming Yang from a £1.5bn Scottish wind farm. MPs warned that failing to align trade remedies with continental partners risks sidelining the UK from major European industrial initiatives.
Key points
MPs recommended establishing transparent red and green zones to clearly delineate prohibi…: MPs recommended establishing transparent red and green zones to clearly delineate prohibited security areas from encouraged Chinese investment.
The UK must prepare new trade remedies, including potential electric vehicle tariffs, to…: The UK must prepare new trade remedies, including potential electric vehicle tariffs, to avoid exclusion from the EU's Made in Europe project.
Downing Street has refused to rule out imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles as m…: Downing Street has refused to rule out imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles as ministers weigh security against commercial interests.
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The UK is making up policy on China “as it goes along” and risks having its strategy dictated by Washington or Beijing, a parliamentary report has concluded.
An investigation by the Commons business, innovation, science and trade select committee said Labour’s failure to formulate a coherent strategy since 2024 “combined the worst of both worlds” for the UK in relation to China.
Liam Byrne, Labour MP and chair of the committee said the UK’s policy on China meant it was also endangering its business with the EU with the risk of being “cut off” from big manufacuring contracts.
The government could neither deliver commercial opportunities to British businesses nor control the “increasing exposure to unquantified, managed risk” in relations with China, it found.
The report said: “In 2024, the new government promised a strategic, long-term, consistent UK approach to China. It has not delivered on this.
“Britain must shape its own relationship with China or risk having that relationship shaped for us in Washington or Beijing.”
The UK’s relationship with China has been marked by a lack of engagement in…
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