Trading Partner Portal: United Kingdom

United States, United Kingdom and California flags displayed side by side.

UK and California deepen ties on clean energy to boost investment
Government of the United Kingdom, February 16, 2026Governor Newsom launches UK climate partnership
Governor of California, February 16, 2026

MOU Between the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland and the State of California
Government of California, February 16, 2026

President Trump Signs Technology Prosperity Deal with United Kingdom
The White House, September 18, 2025

UK Ready to Do Business with California
Tammy Sandhu MBE, Consul General
to the British Consulate General of San Francisco, May 23, 2025

Trade Overview

The United Kingdom is a unitary state composed by the countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK officially left the European Union on January 31, 2020, with a transition period that lasted until December 31, 2020.

The two economies agreed to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement which entered into force on May 1, 2021. UK population totaled 69.49 in 2025 with GDP roughly $4 trillion according to the World Bank.

U.S. – United Kingdom Trade

Two-way goods trade between the United States and the United Kingdom was $161.80 billion in 2025. The UK as the 4th largest export market of U.S. goods with a total value of $97.01 billion. Top exports to the UK were primary metals manufactures ($30.99 billion), transportation equipment ($13.57 billion), chemicals ($7.89 billion), and computer and electronic products ($7.45 billion), and oil and gas ($7.34 billion).

The U.S. imported $64.79 billion from the UK in 2025. Top products included transportation equipment ($14.48 billion), chemicals ($9.77 billion), non-electrical machinery ($7.95 billion), goods returned ($6.99 billion), and computer and electronic products ($4.06 billion). (U.S. Department of Commerce)

Services trade between the UK and United States totaled $211.01 billion according to the International Trade Administration. Exports totaled $108.67 billion, with the top service export being financial services at $25.97 billion. other top exports were other business services ($25.34 billion), telecommunications, computer, and information services ($14.02 billion), travel ($11.84 billion), and transport services ($8.49 billion).

Services imports from the Uk to U.S. totaled 102.34 billion, with the top import being other business services at $27.54 billion. Other top imports included financial services ($21.99 billion), travel ($12.26 billion), insurance services ($11.67 billion), and transport services ($11.33 billion).

U.S. – California Trade

The United Kingdom is California’s 9th largest export destination, with roughly $5.61 billion in exports in 2025. Computer and electronic products had the largest total, coming in at $1.69 billion. This was followed by transportation equipment ($910 million), chemicals ($436 million), non-electrical machinery ($339 million), and fabricated metal products ($324 million).

In 2025, imports into California from the United Kingdom were approximately $4.05 billion. Top import categories were transportation equipment ($689 million), followed by computer & electronic products ($454 million), goods returned ($441 million), non-electrical machinery ($381 million), and electrical equipment, appliances & components ($352 million).

FDI – United Kingdom

Per the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S.-UK investment relationship is the largest in the world, valued at over $1.1 trillion in 2025 and creating over 2.6 million jobs, over one million in each country.

As of 2025, the U.S. direct investment position in the UK is roughly $1.11 trillion, and the UK position in the U.S. is roughly $738.3 billion. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis

In 2024, the UK was the fourth largest source of FDI in the U.S., and UK FDI in the U.S. contributed $6.6 billion to research and development and an additional $71 billion to expanding U.S. exports. There were 1,223,000 U.S. workers who were employed by the U.S. affiliates of majority UK owned firms. The top industry sectors for British FDI in the U.S. are business services, software and IT services, financial services, industrial equipment, communications, and energy. (Select USA)

In California, the second largest source of FDI through foreign-owned enterprises (FOEs) is the United Kingdom. In 2025, British FOEs in California provided over 115,186 jobs through 2,1163 firms amounting to $12.61 billion in wages. The top jobs by sectors are professional/business services, manufacturing, leisure/hospitality, retail trade, and information (World Trade Center Los Angeles FDI Report).

The UK has been pursuing trade with the U.S. by going from state to state, inking trade memorandums of understanding (MOU). In June 2023, the UK signed a state-level trade deal with Utah. Similar deals have been struck with Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Oklahoma. The trade MOUs aim to strengthen trade relations by establishing a framework to increase exports and spur investment, creating more jobs in the UK.

As of May 2025, the U.S. and UK have signed a new trade agreement hoping to open up the UK market to more American products.

General Terms for the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Economic Prosperity Deal
United States Trade Representative, May 9, 2024

Fact Sheet: U.S.-UK Reach Historic Trade Deal
The White House, May 8, 2025

General Terms for the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Economic Prosperity Deal
The White House, May 8, 2025

PM remarks on the UK’s landmark economic deal with the US: Thursday 8 May
UK.GOV, May 8, 2025

CalChamber Welcomes British Trade Minister to Quarterly Dinner with Other International Representatives
CalChamber, December 13, 2022

Director Gives Analysis of UK Trade with US, California After Brexit
CalChamber, March 2, 2021

A New Year, A New Deal: The UK’s Future Relationship with California
CalChamber, January 12, 2021

Interview Series Featuring California’s Key Trading Partners – Featuring Andrew Whittaker, British Consul General in San Francisco:
Cultural Parallels, Mutual Interests Form Core of Strategic Trading Partnership
CalChamber, August 14, 2020