Starmer secures visa-free travel and whisky tariff cut during China visit

Prime Minister Keir Starmer traveled to China this week with more than two dozen British business and financial leaders for the first visit by a British leader in eight years, meeting President Xi Jinping and returning with measures including short-term visa-free travel for British citizens, a cut in tariffs on Scotch whisky and a pledge that Chery Commercial Vehicles would open a European headquarters in the north of England, the Times reports on Jan.

30, 2026. The trip was part of an effort by Mr. Starmer’s government to revive sluggish economic growth and deepen ties with the world’s second-largest economy after years of upheaval from Brexit and U.S. tariffs. Mr. Starmer said Britain’s $140 billion trading relationship with China has veered from a “golden era” to an “ice age,” and has argued Britain must “deal with the world as it is.” Oxford Economics described Britain’s economy as suffering a “bout of mild stagflation.” Beijing announced a package of steps that could help expand British services exports, especially in finance: a new China-United Kingdom financial working group was formed and held its first meeting, and the London branch of the Bank of China began trading the renminbi, with London noted as the largest hub for trading the currency outside Asia.

The two countries also announced 10 cooperation agreements in areas including trade, finance, health, education and law enforcement.

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