Cutting business ties with China would be ‘foolish’, Reeves says amid reports of US pressure

Reeves visiting the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe, owned by the Chinese company Jingye, on Thursday. Photograph: Danny Lawson/Reuters

Rachel Reeves has dismissed the idea of economically disengaging from China, amid concerns the US may put pressure on the UK to limit its deals with Beijing.

The chancellor, who will discuss a trade deal with the US on a trip to Washington next week, said it would be “very foolish” for Britain to have less involvement with Xi Jinping’s administration.