The UK’s new business and trade secretary, Peter Kyle, arrived in Beijing on 10 September for the country’s first trade summit with China since 2018.
The trip is part of the government’s efforts to revive trade ties between the two countries and boost the UK economy following the recent relaunch of the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (Jetco).
The two-day trade talks aim to seek market access deals worth more than £1bn over five years, according to a statement from the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
British businesses will join the trade talks alongside Kyle, who replaced Jonathan Reynolds as business secretary in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle on 5 September after Angela Rayner resigned from her role as deputy prime minister.
“British businesses will be an important part of my visit, helping open doors to greater commercial opportunities,” Kyle said in the DBT statement.
“More discussions and direct engagement with China will ensure trade between us can flourish, strengthen our national security and create space to raise concerns constructively where needed.”
Since US President Donald Trump launched his chaotic “Liberation Day” trade tariffs in April, governments worldwide have been looking to expand trading relationships with other countries, including China.
Under Trump’s tariffs, 10% has been imposed on the UK, while other countries, including India and Brazil, face the highest levies at 50%.
Over the past financial year, UK exports to China were valued at nearly £2bn, driven by creative industries, retail and healthcare, according to DBT data.
Those deals included a three-season broadcasting agreement between the Premier League and streaming platform Migu and a strategic agreement for UK health science firm Cultech Group to introduce its range of probiotics in the world’s second-largest economy.
“Revising [the UK’s] trade relationship with Beijing through these engagements could present huge opportunities for UK exporters,” the DBT said in the statement, adding that it potentially provides “greater access to British businesses to a country with a growing middle-class market that is forecast to contribute 23% of global growth between 2023 and 2050.”