The person in charge of President Trump’s tariff issue warned that the UK is too compliant with the CCP and cautioned London not to deepen its relationship with the CCP to avoid being “drained of blood”. This comment could complicate tariff negotiations between the US and the UK.
According to The Telegraph on Saturday (May 3rd), Peter Navarro, Trump’s trade advisor, said in an interview with the newspaper that the CCP’s influence in the UK, such as real estate and infrastructure investments, as well as the financial market, is worrying.
Navarro stated: “Let’s face the reality that the UK has become too compliant with the CCP as a result of the pressure exerted by the CCP through gifts with strings attached. Beware of gifts from authoritarian mercantilist regimes.”
Following the outbreak of the trade war, the White House imposed tariffs of up to 145% on some Chinese imports, leading to a significant decrease in the volume of American goods being transported to China. Beijing is now eager to find other markets.
The Chinese e-commerce platform Shein is considering conducting its initial public offering in London, a move that has sparked controversy.
Navarro told The Telegraph, “When the US tries to obtain fairness from the biggest cheater, the CCP, the UK and the EU must be highly vigilant to avoid becoming a dumping ground for CCP products originally destined for the US.”
He further stated to the British newspaper, “If the CCP vampire cannot suck the blood of the US, it will suck the blood of the UK and the EU. For the global economy, now is a dangerous moment that could potentially open the door to the CCP.”
In recent months, as part of the UK Labour government’s promotion of the so-called “pragmatic re-engagement,” officials such as Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have made high-profile visits to Beijing.
Reeves recently claimed that London is a “natural home” for CCP funds. The London authorities also emphasize the establishment of a stable and balanced relationship with the CCP, stating that this could add £1 billion to the UK economy within five years.
Regarding Navarro’s comments, a spokesperson for the UK government told The Telegraph, “This government will always manage the UK’s relationship with China (CCP) with a clear and strategic vision. Our international trade will continue to enhance long-term prosperity for the UK without compromising on economic and national security.”
Over the past twenty years, the 75-year-old economist Navarro has continuously warned American political figures about the ongoing threat from the CCP. He was one of the few officials to serve the entire first term of the Trump administration. In 2024, he was sentenced to four months in prison for refusing to testify to Congress about the January 6th Capitol Hill attack.