Crunch talks over a UK trade deal with Donald Trump have been thrown into jeopardy by plans for a new Chinese ‘super-embassy’ in London, diplomatic sources have revealed.
White House sources said the US Government was ‘very concerned’ about the risk the embassy posed to America’s interests in the City as a result of Beijing’s spies potentially tapping into sensitive financial cables.
As a result, Washington’s trade deal negotiators are understood to have asked for a ‘China lock’ as part of the talks, which would guarantee the development will not present a security threat to the US.
American officials are now also more concerned about the risk of sharing high-grade intelligence with Britain.
A source said: ‘The issue has led to undoubted tension during the talks. The British have been desperate to play down the concerns, even though their own intelligence services have made their worries clear.’
