China has issued a sharp rebuke to the United States over its newly signed trade deal with the United Kingdom, citing serious concerns.
China strongly criticizes US-UK trade deal over supply chain exclusion risks for the country
Tensions escalate amid ongoing US-China trade disputes
China has delivered a strong rebuke following the recent announcement of a US-UK trade deal, criticizing the agreement as a potential threat to its economic interests.
The deal, hailed by US President Donald Trump as a “major breakthrough” on May 7, comes amid a fragile truce in the trade tensions between the US and China.
Although both nations agreed to a 90-day pause on new tariffs, the underlying rivalry remains unresolved.
The agreement with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer marks the first formal trade pact between the Trump administration and a foreign government.
It includes targeted exemptions from US tariffs on British steel and automobile exports.
The UK sees the deal as protecting jobs and industry, while China views it as a threat to its economic interests.
Beijing accuses the West of undermining fair competition
China’s foreign ministry warned trade agreements must not harm third countries, sharply reacting to the new US-UK deal.
“Co-operation between states should not be conducted against or to the detriment of the interests of third parties,” a spokesperson told the Financial Times.
China has consistently criticized what it calls “unilateralism” in US trade policy.
In an earlier statement on April 21, the Chinese commerce ministry condemned any trade pacts that negatively impact China’s standing, hinting at possible retaliatory measures.
“China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests,” the ministry stated.
“Appeasement will not bring peace, and compromise will not be respected … To seek one’s own temporary selfish interests at the expense of others’ interests is to seek the skin of a tiger, which will ultimately fail on both ends and harm others,” they added.
“Such actions may trigger serious consequences.”
Analysts view UK move as risky gamble
Zhang Yansheng, a senior researcher at the China Academy of Macroeconomic Research, criticized the deal’s stipulations.
He described the requirements on supply chain compliance and ownership transparency as “poison pill clauses.”
“This type of poison pill clause is actually worse than the tariffs,” he added, urging China to ‘bluntly raise the issue’ with the UK.
“The underlying problem is the US, other countries are secondary actors,” he added. “It needs to be discussed in trade talks with the US.”
“This isn’t just unfair—it’s strategic containment,” he remarked, suggesting that Beijing should confront both London and Washington directly.
A Chinese adviser criticized the UK for rushing the deal, saying it ignores wider geopolitical consequences.
“London may have acted in haste, ignoring the risk of retaliation,” he warned.
Supply chains are now the center of global trade strategy
The Chinese government is reportedly accelerating efforts to insulate its economy by minimizing dependence on foreign components.
This initiative appears to be a pre-emptive response to perceived exclusion from Western trade networks.
According to officials, the US is deliberately encouraging countries like the UK to detach from Chinese supply lines.
As part of the agreement, the UK required to align with US standards on production security and facility ownership.
The US grants the UK limited tariff relief but keeps a 10 percent baseline duty on most British exports.
UK maintains ties with both sides amid pressure
The UK government has emphasized that it values its economic ties with both Washington and Beijing.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the trade pact designed to protect British businesses and secure thousands of jobs.
They also affirmed that trade and investment with China remain a priority.
China’s backlash forces the UK to carefully balance relations between two of the world’s largest and most influential economies.