Should the UK pull away from China and encourage new manufacturing in the UK?
The UK has increased its strategic dependency on China for 7.9% of imported goods by 2025, with sharp rises in critical materials, semiconductors and ICT. The Labour government under Keir Starmer has pursued pragmatic engagement including a January 2026 visit yielding trade deals worth billions while screening Chinese investments for national security and promoting domestic advanced manufacturing through its Industrial Strategy. Recent reports highlight risks of economic coercion and supply shocks particularly in green technology and defence.
4 Opinions
There are some materials and goods we cannot get here, we can get them from abroad. This helps our own manufacturing base to produce goods that we can export.
China should not be a critical dependency for anything essential to our national security.
Decades of offshoring our industrial base to China gutted our regions and left Britain dangerously exposed. Relying on Beijing for essential green tech, chips, and critical materials isn't smart trade, we are just an economic hostage.
Self-suficience and independence is the key to success.