Starmer’s China visit walks a fine line between growth and U.S. optics

British PM Keir Starmer travels to Beijing for the first UK leader visit since 2018, aiming to unlock growth with a cautious set of deals while avoiding a rift with the U.S. and Donald Trump. Expect low‑risk agreements in health, climate science, financial services, and visas, plus chatter on whisky tariffs, with big energy or EV collaborations likely off the table, reflecting a three‑way balancing act among Washington, Brussels and Beijing amid security and human rights sensitivities.