China Criticizes UK-US Trade Pact Over Alleged Targeting of Chinese Goods

Beijing has issued a sharp rebuke of the newly announced UK-US trade agreement, framing it as an indirect attack on Chinese economic interests. The TRUMP administration’s first formal trade pact since implementing reciprocal tariffs last month includes stringent security measures for British steel and pharmaceuticals—a move that complicates Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s efforts to mend ties with China.

"Co-operation between states should not be conducted against or to the detriment of the interests of third parties," China’s foreign ministry stated, thinly veiling its reference to perceived targeting. The Financial Times reports the deal has already strained diplomatic channels, with Beijing interpreting the stringent sectoral requirements as a proxy trade barrier.