Britain said it was open to discussions about imposing additional tariffs on China after US President Donald Trump suggested Nato members levy steep duties on Chinese imports to punish Beijing for buying Russian petroleum, the Business Secretary signalled on Monday.
Peter Kyle told Sky News he was "looking at ways" to support Ukraine "assertively and imaginatively," and that the UK would work with the United States on measures to press Moscow and its backers. Kyle said he had held "constructive conversations" in the White House this week and that London and Washington had ideas to share on possible actions.
The comments followed remarks by Mr Trump over the weekend in which he proposed Nato countries impose tariffs of between 50 and 100 percent on China for buying Russian oil. Mr Trump also said he would be prepared to impose sanctions on Moscow if allied states stopped purchasing Russian petroleum and the transatlantic alliance simultaneously moved against China, according to his public statements.
Downing Street said the "special relationship" between London and Washington would "reach new heights" during the president's state visit this week. The visit's centrepiece, officials said, is a technology investment package expected to involve US firms such as Nvidia and OpenAI committing billions of dollars to operations in the UK. A UK delegation has been sent to Washington to finalise preparations for the president's trip.
Government sources and media reports said ministers were also pushing through a bilateral agreement to speed approval of nuclear plants across both countries. Under the deal, a reactor that has passed rigorous safety assessments in one country could be used by the other to support its licensing process, potentially halving the time required in some cases, the government said. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the commitments as positioning the UK for a "golden age of nuclear" that would lower household bills over time and create jobs.
The tariff proposals have highlighted tensions in the government's foreign policy balance. Media coverage noted that Labour ministers have courted Chinese investment amid efforts to stimulate a sluggish economy, and that Sir Keir is reportedly considering a visit to Beijing following recent trips by senior ministers including Rachel Reeves and David Lammy. The Daily Mail reported that the tariff proposals appear at odds with that outreach.
Officials also worked to contain fallout from the recent high-profile sacking of former European commissioner Lord Peter Mandelson, a figure who had championed closer UK ties with the US technology sector. Insiders said the departure caused irritation in Washington and at Buckingham Palace, though ministers sought to keep such matters off the agenda as summit preparations continued.
The UK government's statements did not set out a timetable or legal pathway for imposing tariffs on China, and ministers emphasised that discussions with the United States are ongoing. Allies have previously used sanctions and trade measures as tools in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine; any coordinated move to target third countries' trade would require further diplomatic and legal work among Nato members.
The president's visit and the sequencing of planned economic and security measures will be watched closely by governments in Beijing, Moscow and EU capitals as leaders consider the diplomatic and commercial implications of potential new tariffs or sanctions.