A meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday didn’t produce any big business deal for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, despite bringing over 50 business and cultural leaders in hopes of reviving the UK's slowing economy.
But China did agree to cut its 10 percent tariff on British whiskey in half. Both sides also agreed to share intelligence to stop smugglers from using Chinese engines to transport migrants across the English Channel.
The two countries will also explore a potential deal to set up clear rules for UK firms doing business in China.
For the Chinese side, AstraZeneca’s promised $15 billion investment is set to expand manufacturing sites in the country.
In terms of human rights, Starmer said he had a respectful discussion with Xi about the case of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and former Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon.
Lai now could face up to life in prison after being convicted under China’s national security law.