China Blasts U.S. Over Trade Deal with U.K. Amid Ongoing Tensions

China has issued a sharp rebuke to the United States following the announcement of a new trade agreement between President Donald Trump and the United Kingdom.

Tensions between the two global powers have been steadily escalating since the U.S. unveiled a wave of so-called “reciprocal” tariffs on its trading partners, set to take effect from April 2.

China has responded with particular force, engaging in a month-long tit-for-tat tariff battle with Washington. Both sides have threatened to dramatically increase duties on each other’s imports, intensifying fears of a full-blown trade war.

Although President Trump agreed to a 90-day pause in the U.S.–China trade dispute — reducing tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 40% — the White House’s announcement of a “major” trade deal with the U.K. on May 7 has further inflamed Beijing’s concerns over U.S. trade strategy and global alliances.

Trump made the deal with the UK on May 8 (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The agreement with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer marks the first trade deal between the Trump administration and a foreign nation, offering sector-specific relief from U.S. tariffs on British car and steel exports.

However, China has expressed strong displeasure with the deal, warning that it could harm its interests if the UK begins excluding Chinese products from its supply chains.

When questioned about the agreement, Beijing emphasized that it is a “basic principle” that bilateral trade deals should not negatively impact third countries.

Speaking to the Financial Times, China’s foreign ministry stated: “Cooperation between states should not be conducted against or to the detriment of the interests of third parties.”

Just last month, China issued a stark warning, cautioning that any country entering into trade agreements with the U.S. could face serious consequences.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer secured a deal with the US (Alberto Pezzali-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

On April 21, China’s Ministry of Commerce firmly stated its opposition to any party striking a deal that undermines Chinese interests, warning that “resolute and reciprocal” countermeasures would be imposed on those who align with former President Trump.

“Appeasement will not bring peace, and compromise will not earn respect,” the ministry said. “To pursue short-term, selfish gains at the expense of others is like seeking the skin of a tiger — a move doomed to fail and cause mutual harm.”

Beijing further cautioned: “In a world where the strong prey on the weak, no nation will be spared.”

The statement places both London and Washington in a difficult position, as China accelerates efforts to remove foreign components from its supply chains in response to escalating trade tensions.

A Chinese government adviser added: “China will be compelled to respond. The UK moved too hastily in agreeing to the deal.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping is being urged to have a frank discussion with the UK about how the deal might affect the country (Florence Lo-Pool/Getty Images)

Zhang Yansheng, a senior researcher at the China Academy of Macroeconomic Research, also told the news outlet that ‘it’s not fair to China’ for the UK to make such an agreement.

“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.”

Meanwhile, the UK can benefit from lower car and steel exports – under the condition the country ‘works to promptly meet US requirements’ in supply chain security and the ‘ownership of relevant production facilities.’

Officials believe Trump has added this clause deliberately to isolate China.

Trump’s baseline 10 percent tariff on all other British goods will also remain in force.

The UK government said at the time that it had reached a trade deal with Trump to ‘secure thousands of jobs’ and ‘protect British businesses’ while trade and investment with China ‘remain important to the UK.’