The Prime Minister has returned from China with a package of trade, investment and market-access agreements worth billions of pounds, marking the UK’s first prime
ministerial visit to the country in eight years and signalling a reset in economic engagement between the two nations.
By the end of the trip, the government had secured £2.2 billion in confirmed export deals, around £2.3 billion in new market-access opportunities over the next five years, and hundreds of millions of pounds in inward investment, delivering a significant boost to British businesses and jobs.
Downing Street said the results reflected a “pragmatic and clear-eyed” approach to relations with China, aimed at driving growth at home while safeguarding national security.
Major win for British whisky
One of the most high-profile outcomes was a breakthrough for the UK’s whisky industry. China agreed to cut tariffs on imported whisky from 10% to 5%, a move expected to be worth £250 million to the UK economy over five years.
China is currently Scotch whisky’s tenth-largest market by value, and the tariff cut is expected to give Scottish distillers a stronger foothold in one of the world’s fastest-growing premium spirits markets.
New jobs and investment across the UK
The visit also unlocked a string of investment announcements across sectors:
- POP MART, the Chinese entertainment brand behind the viral Labubu toys, confirmed plans to make London its European hub, opening 27 stores across Europe—including up to seven in the UK—and creating more than 150 British jobs.
- Chery Commercial Vehicles will open its European headquarters in Liverpool, with the company pledging to support the UK’s green automotive supply chain and local employment.
- Energy storage giant HiTHIUM announced a £200 million investment, creating 300 high-quality jobs and strengthening the UK’s domestic energy storage capability.
- In life sciences, Asymchem revealed plans to expand its UK operations, creating 150 skilled roles in advanced R&D and manufacturing over the next five years.
Separately, AstraZeneca confirmed a £15 billion investment programme in China to expand innovative R&D, supporting its global pipeline while underpinning around 10,000 high-skill jobs across the UK, including in Cambridge, Macclesfield, Speke, Luton and London.
Boost for manufacturing, sport and logistics
British manufacturers and service industries also secured significant gains:
- Brompton Bicycle is on track to achieve £111.5 million in sales to China over the next three years.
- The World Snooker Tour, which reaches a global audience of 1.8 billion people, has secured new major events in two Chinese cities worth £15 million over five years, following updated arena-capacity guidelines.
- Welsh firm Cultech will partner with China Resources to generate £90 million in exports and create 55 skilled jobs in Port Talbot.
- Birmingham Biotech expects £20 million in sales of its drug-free health products in China.
- Glasgow Prestwick Airport has opened three new direct cargo routes to China, bringing £76 million in new business and creating 250 jobs, while boosting exports such as Scottish salmon and seafood.
Strengthening trade ties
China remains the UK’s third-largest trading partner, with exports to China supporting an estimated 370,000 British jobs. During the visit, the Prime Minister convened senior UK and Chinese business leaders to deepen commercial ties and open new opportunities across supply chains.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We are bringing stability, clarity and a long-term strategy to how we engage with China, so we can bring home the benefits for businesses and for working people.
Engaging with China, is how we secure growth for British businesses, support good jobs at home, and protect our national security”.
Business & Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said: “We will leave China having put our relationship with one of the world’s biggest economies on a stronger footing, unlocking billions for the UK, and setting the course for new commercial partnerships.
This shows that consistent and clear-eyed engagement is the right approach proving the UK doesn’t need to choose between our trade partners”.
Wider market access gains
The visit concluded with agreements to expand market access for UK firms across services, agriculture, food, retail, sport and life sciences. A new food-safety cooperation mechanism will streamline import approvals, cutting costs and speeding up entry for UK companies targeting China’s fast-growing consumer market.
Taken together, the government said, the deals underline how targeted cooperation with China can deliver tangible economic benefits—from export growth to high-skill jobs—while maintaining the firm principle that the UK will never trade economic access for national security.
Grant Wang, Founder, Chairman and CEO of POP MART, said: “London stands at the heart of the global creative ecosystem, and we are thrilled to plant our European roots here. We feel privileged to have partnered with renowned British IPs like Harry Potter, and we look forward to continuing to contribute to and grow alongside the dynamic culture and creative landscape of the UK and European markets—whether through deeper collaborations with European partners, tapping into its world-class talent pool, or co-creating with the local thriving creative industry.”
Jason Ferguson, Chairman & CEO of the World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association Group (WPBSA) said: “Sports events and the entertainment they provide are a big part of society. New technologies, large screens, and the interactivity available today means that more and more people can get involved.
We are delighted to see that following consultation with the UK on stadium safety, new guidelines have been established on arena capacity in China, now allowing greater crowds to attend major events and enjoy the fantastic live entertainment on offer”. Photo by Prime Minister's Office, Wikimedia commons.