EXCL: Britain is too dependent on China for imports in 71 goods categories key to critical infrastructure, finds new ⁦ @HJS_Org⁩ report.

⁦It has prompted 22 Tory MPs, led by ⁦ @IoWBobSeely⁩, to seek to amend trade bill to curb reliance. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/uk-is-too-dependent-on-china-for-critical-goods-tories-warn-bz6vhfvc0">https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/u...

Report finds UK “strategically dependent” on China for active pharmaceutical ingredients needed to make painkillers, antibiotics & anti-viral drugs.

Plus industrial chemicals, variety of metal products and consumer electronics including mobile phones & laptops.

Report by @HJS_Org defines “strategic dependence” as goods where:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="White heavy check mark" aria-label="Emoji: White heavy check mark"> UK is net importer
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="White heavy check mark" aria-label="Emoji: White heavy check mark"> UK imports >50% from China
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="White heavy check mark" aria-label="Emoji: White heavy check mark"> China has >30% global market share

UK is dependent for 289 goods, of which 71 “critical”.

Across Five Eyes, it’s 5,910 goods, of which 319 “critical”.

Tories have sent letter to Trade Sec Liz Truss, calling on gvt to:
- conduct annual audit of goods where UK is strategically dependent on authoritarian states such as China
- prioritise new trade deals that reduce this dependency

Signed by IDS, DD, Paterson, Seely & others

Tories argue now is the moment to act & amend trade bill going through Commons, as Covid-19 pandemic has prompted all nations to reassess trade and supply security.

Britain among those to place new restrictions on export of crucial goods, as it has struggled to source PPE etc.

Public attitudes towards China appear to be hardening in UK.

In light of Covid-19 crisis, 63% of Britons support gvt adopting a tougher trade, investment & security policy towards China, mirroring US approach of recent years.

April @Survation poll commissioned by @HJS_Org

Tory @IoWBobSeely says in op-ed for @timesredbox today: “Those that govern us need to wake up to the new reality.”

He says UK must reduce dependency on China and “negotiate a new future with Beijing that respects our economic, ethic & political values” https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/our-leaders-must-wake-up-dependence-on-china-is-dangerous-s6vrsmq3j">https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/o...

Here’s full @HJS_Org report https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Down pointing backhand index" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index">

“Breaking the China Supply Chain: How the ‘Five Eyes’ can Decouple from Strategic Dependency” https://henryjacksonsociety.org/publications/breaking-the-china-supply-chain-how-the-five-eyes-can-decouple-from-strategic-dependency/">https://henryjacksonsociety.org/publicati...