Politics · United Kingdom · 2 hrs ago
Parliamentary committee criticises Labour's approach to trade with China
A parliamentary committee has criticised Labour's approach to China in a 97-page report on trade relations.
The report says the government re-engaged with Beijing without setting rules to protect Britain's economic and national security.
It also says Labour has not delivered a promised long-term strategy for dealing with China.
The two countries' annual trade is about £140 billion, around 7 per cent of all UK trade.
The report's concerns matter because the committee says Britain's approach lacks consistency while economic ties remain significant.
The editorial calls for the government to set ground rules, but gives no details of when it will respond.
A parliamentary committee has criticised the Labour government’s approach to trade relations with China.
The committee said Labour had re-engaged with China without setting rules to protect Britain’s economic and national security.
It also criticised the government for not delivering a promised long-term strategy for its approach to China.
Annual trade between the UK and China totals £140 billion, according to the article.
The Daily Mail’s editorial argues that the government should set ground rules for doing business with China.
- Who
- Parliament’s Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee criticised the Labour government.
- What
- The committee criticised Labour’s approach to trade with China and said it had not set rules to protect British economic and national security.
- When
- The article was published on 2 November 2026. The report’s publication date is not stated.
- Where
- The United Kingdom and China.
- Why
- The committee said the government had re-engaged with China without establishing protective rules and had not delivered a promised strategic approach.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The government re-engaged with China, according to the committee report.
The Daily Mail published an editorial discussing the committee’s assessment of the government’s approach to China.
- Committee
- Parliament’s Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee
- Report length
- 97 pages
- Annual UK-China trade
- £140 billion
- Share of UK trade
- Roughly 7 per cent
- Article publication date
- 2 November 2026
2 sources
What people are saying
has re-engaged with China without establishing the rules of the game required to protect British economic and national security
a strategic, long-term, consistent UK approach to China