Not realistic or right for UK to distance from China, says CBI boss It is not realistic or right for UK firms to distance themselves from China amid a need for stronger global trade, according to the head of one of Britain’s most prominent business groups.
The CBI chief will tell an audience at the University of Oxford on Wednesday that the UK “must not” fall behind one of the key trading blocs in the case of a potential trade war.
Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), will say in a speech that the UK must not listen to the “siren call of protectionism” in its trade policy.
It comes amid a backdrop of a looming global trade war after US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose new tariffs.
On Tuesday, Mr Trump imposed 10% tariffs on China, sparking instant retaliation from Beijing, which launched its own tariffs on coal, liquified natural gas and crude oil.
