UK Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle is visiting Washington, D.C., to strengthen UK-US relations and advance the UK tech partnership ahead of the upcoming State Visit scheduled for September 17, 2025.

During his Washington trip, Kyle will meet with White House tech adviser Michael Kratsios and AI adviser Sriram Krishnan, signaling a pragmatic approach to engaging with both the US and China.

After his meetings in Washington, Kyle will proceed directly to China to explore non-sensitive economic cooperation, aiming to bolster the UK’s struggling economy while maintaining a stance of challenging China where necessary.

Britain is exploring cooperation with China in non-sensitive areas to support economic growth, while also challenging China in areas deemed sensitive, reflecting a balanced approach.

Kyle’s visit to China will include discussions on expanding economic ties, despite limited tangible benefits from previous diplomatic efforts, such as a recent Chinese investment of £600 million, which is smaller compared to Bahrain’s £2 billion investment.

China remains the UK’s fifth-largest export market, valued at approximately £41 billion, with recent British interest in Chinese sports, education, and business expansion, including opening a Premier League office in Beijing and plans for a training base in Qingdao.

High-level dialogues like Jetco are seen as crucial for boosting bilateral trade and investment, with recent efforts showing some progress after years of stagnation caused by political issues and leadership changes.

On his first full day as Business Secretary, Kyle emphasized his focus on economic growth, engaging with over 100 business leaders, entrepreneurs, and trade unions to pursue relentless growth.

The UK and US have already agreed on a trade deal earlier in 2025, which includes plans for a future technology partnership and negotiations on digital trade, laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration.

During his visit, Kyle will also meet with CEOs of Alaska Airlines and Airbus to promote the UK as a top investment destination.

Kyle is expected to miss the China International Fair for Investment & Trade (Cifit) in Xiamen due to short notice, despite the UK’s significant business delegation led by James Sassoon attending the event.