UK's New Business Secretary Peter Kyle Heads to Beijing as Starmer Government Reboots Trade Ties with China
UK's new Business Secretary Peter Kyle will travel to China this week in a renewed push by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government to stabilise and expand trade ties with Beijing.
The visit marks the latest in a series of high-level engagements aimed at boosting economic cooperation amid Britain's stagnant growth outlook.
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| Image Source: biztradegovuk |
The trip will include participation in the long-delayed UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) -- the first such summit in seven years.
JETCO meetings, once a regular fixture in bilateral relations, were suspended in 2019 after the UK halted official trade dialogue in response to China’s clampdown on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. The Covid-19 pandemic further stalled diplomatic contact.
The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP @PeterKyle has been appointed as Secretary of State for Business and Trade @BizTradeGovUK and President of the Board of Trade. pic.twitter.com/kupy37UtV7
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 5, 2025
Kyle’s mission forms part of a broader strategy by the Labour government to repair and recalibrate economic links with China.
He joins a list of senior ministers who have made similar visits since Labour assumed power last year, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, both of whom previously visited Beijing in official capacities.
Jetco Resumes Amid Broader Trade Ambitions
The renewed dialogue through JETCO is viewed as an important symbolic and practical step in normalising UK-China relations, particularly on trade and investment.
According to business advocacy groups operating in China, consistent diplomatic channels such as JETCO are vital in creating a more predictable environment for British companies.
Kyle’s trip, however, is expected to skip the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen -- a major trade event where over 200 British firms will be represented.
The delegation to CIFIT will instead be led by Lord James Sassoon, a former financial services executive and adviser to former Prime Minister David Cameron.
The absence is due to scheduling constraints, as Kyle was also involved in pre-visit preparations for the upcoming state visit of US President Donald Trump to the UK.
Nonetheless, British officials emphasised that the business secretary’s engagement in Beijing would focus squarely on restoring functional trade channels and removing commercial friction.
Mixed Perceptions, Measured Optimism
While UK business leaders welcomed the resumption of structured dialogue, observers remain cautious about the tangible outcomes of these diplomatic overtures.
Analysts note that despite repeated visits by ministers, results on key trade metrics remain limited, and that the UK’s overall China policy lacks coherence.
Since Labour took office, at least eight other government representatives have travelled to China for bilateral or multilateral engagements, yet critics argue that this frequency has not yet translated into substantial policy shifts or clear strategic gains.
Still, institutions like the China-Britain Business Council and the British Chamber of Commerce in China see value in the recent uptick in engagement, particularly in stabilising perceptions after years of erratic messaging and leadership turnover in the UK.
A huge welcome to the new Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade, @peterkyle 👏 pic.twitter.com/Mzqh4WnT3X
— Department for Business and Trade (@biztradegovuk) September 5, 2025
The Starmer government has positioned economic growth as a central domestic priority, and with EU ties still fragile post-Brexit, China remains a critical market -- both as a source of imports and an export destination. Yet strategic sensitivities around technology, security, and human rights continue to shadow the relationship.
Kyle’s upcoming meetings with China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao are expected to cover trade facilitation, market access, and regulatory issues impacting UK businesses operating in China.
No major agreements are yet expected to be signed during this visit, though both sides are expected to reaffirm commitments to deepen trade dialogue.
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