The UK is seeking a trade deal with China. What does trade between the two countries look like? Visualization

What This Visualization Shows

This data visualization displays "The UK is seeking a trade deal with China. What does trade between the two countries look like?" and provides a clear visual representation of the underlying data patterns and trends. The visualization focuses on Prime Minister Keir Starmer travels to China this Tuesday to discuss trade and investment, a visit that comes amid significant economic imbalances and shifting diplomatic pressures. The primary driver for the UK side appears to be the widening trade gap between the two nations. Data from January to November 2025 shows that China exported $76.8 billion worth of goods to the United Kingdom, while British exports to China totaled $17 billion during the same period.

This creates a trade deficit of roughly $60 billion. The composition of this trade highlights the UK's reliance on Chinese manufacturing for consumer technology and transport, specifically cars, telephones, and computers, which accounted for approximately 20% of total imports from China. In contrast, the UK’s export volume is significantly lower, with cars and crude petroleum being the primary contributors.

The timing of the visit is notable given the United States' current stance on its allies' trade policies. The negotiations are under scrutiny following recent comments from Donald Trump, who threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canada if Prime Minister Mark Carney finalized a trade deal with Beijing. This precedent suggests the UK is attempting to balance the need to address its trade deficit with China with the risk of retaliatory tariffs from the US.

Trade Data Source: [https://oec.world/en/profile/country/chn?selector335id=HS4&selector303id=Year&selector1878id=percentage&selector320id=2](https://oec.world/en/profile/country/chn?selector335id=HS4&selector303id=Year&selector1878id=percentage&selector320id=2)

News source: [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/world/europe/uk-china-visit-starmer-trade.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/world/europe/uk-china-visit-starmer-trade.html), which allows us to understand complex relationships and insights within the data through visual storytelling.

Deep Dive into the Topic

This data visualization represents a sophisticated analysis of complex information patterns that provide valuable insights into underlying trends and relationships. Data visualization serves as a bridge between raw numerical data and human understanding, transforming abstract statistics into comprehensible visual narratives.

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Data Analysis and Insights

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Significance and Applications

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