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

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.

U.S. – United Kingdom Trade

Two-way trade between the United States and the United Kingdom was $138.53 billion in 2023 and the UK was the seventh largest importer of U.S. goods with a total value of $74.32 billion. Top exports to the UK were oil and gas ($11.44 billion), followed by chemicals ($10.95 billion), transportation equipment ($10.53 billion), primary metals ($9.1 billion), and computer and electronic products ($5.72 billion).

The U.S. imported $64.22 billion from the UK in 2023. Transportation equipment ($13.84 billion), chemicals ($10.68 billion), non-electrical machinery ($9.42 billion), goods returned ($5.08 billion), and computer and electronic products ($4.32 billion). (U.S. Department of Commerce)

U.S. – California Trade

The United Kingdom is California’s 9th largest export destination, with over $5.74 billion in exports in 2023. Chemicals brought in $1.82 billion followed by computer and electronic products, transportation equipment, non-electrical machinery, and miscellaneous manufactures accounting for $1.09 billion, $507 million, $357 million, and $311 million respectively.

In 2023, imports into California from the United Kingdom were approximately $4.19 billion. Top import categories were transportation equipment ($987 million), which made up 23.6% of the total, followed by computer/electronic products ($529 million), non-electrical machinery (493 million), reimports ($364 million), and chemicals ($292 million).

Investment Overview – FDI

Tourism

According to a February 2019 report by Visit California, 720,000 people visited California from the UK in 2017, spending approximately $1.03 billion, which is an average of $1,433 per visitor. Los Angeles and San Francisco were the top 2 destinations in the U.S. for tourists from the UK, followed by Las Vegas.

UK Market Profile
Visit California

Events

CalChamber Welcomes British Trade Minister to Quarterly Dinner with Other International Representatives – Advocacy – California Chamber of Commerce

(December 13, 2022) On Thursday, December 8 the California Chamber of Commerce hosted members of the San Francisco Consular Corps, who make up some of California’s top trading partners, at the CalChamber Board of Directors dinner. In addition, the CalChamber was honored to host as a special guest United Kingdom Minister for Trade Policy Greg Hands. He was accompanied by British Consul General Joe White.

CalChamber-Hosted Lunch for UK Trade Secretary Provides Opportunity to Reiterate Shared Goals

(July 16, 2021) Technology, agriculture and the California and British economies were among the topics discussed when the California Chamber of Commerce hosted a small luncheon for Britain’s trade secretary on July 14.

The Sacramento stop by the Right Honorable Elizabeth Truss, member of Parliament, was part of a five-day visit to the United States.

CalChamber Luncheon Focuses on Understanding Brexit

(April 25, 2019)  Brexit is the latest phenomenon in the western world presently characterized by shock and schism, a leading scholar explained yesterday at the California Chamber of Commerce.

“Brexit is the most profound crisis that Europe has had since the end of the Second World War,” Dr. Matt Beech, senior fellow at the Institute of European Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, told nearly 100 guests at the CalChamber International Luncheon Forum. The luncheon was sponsored by Suburban Water Systems, a CalChamber member.

Dr. Beech provided attendees with an analysis of the potential implications for the United States and specifically, trade in California, with Britain’s potential withdrawal from the European Union.

Meeting with New British Consul General (November 3, 2016) Today, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg and Vice President of International Affairs Susanne Stirling met with Andrew Whittaker, the new British Consul General based in San Francisco.

British Consul General Priya Guha Provides European Trade Insight to Californian Business Leaders

(December 4, 2015) CalChamber Council for International Trade hosts International Breakfast Friday, December 4, featuring British Consul General Priya Guha and GO-Biz Deputy Director of International Affairs Brian Peck. Consul General Guha provided insight on California relations with the U.K. and Europe, as well as information about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP). Brian Peck gave a brief update on the international activities of GO-Biz. Alert Story

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CalChamber Hosts New British Consul General (January 19, 2012) Trade and investment were among the topics of discussion when the CalChamber hosted a meeting with the new consul general of the United Kingdom. Consul General Priya Guha was appointed to San Francisco in August 2011. She has responsibility for a seven-state area consisting of Northern California, Washington State, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Northern Nevada.

London’s Lord Mayor Addresses CalChamber (August 7, 2003) Alderman Gavyn Arthur, the Right Honorable Lord Mayor of the City of London, speaks at a California Chamber International Luncheon Forum about London’s position at the core of international finance, globalization, European Union-U.S. trade, corporate governance and the Euro.

British Ambassador Meets with CalChamber President (December 4, 2003) Sir David Manning, appointed as the British ambassador to the United States on September 2, visited with California Chamber President Allan Zaremberg yesterday as part of a stop in Sacramento to meet with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other state leaders. Topics raised during the meeting between the Ambassador and Zaremberg included the current political and economic climate in California, trade relations between Great Britain and the United States, and the considerable British investment in California and its significance to the state’s economy.

CalChamber Resources

• UK ParliamentLive.TV
• British-American Chamber in California
• British Consul in California
• BritainUSA (British Embassy)
• Guide to Investing in the UK
• Welsh Government SF
• International Trade FAQs
  • Obtaining a Certificate of Origin
  • Setting up a Business in California
  • Country Studies – Foreign Market Sources
• GO-Biz Stats: British FDI in CA

Business

• U.S. Commercial Service UK
• British Chambers of Commerce
• UK Department of International Trade
• UK Trade and Investment
• British American Trade & Investment Guide 2015/16 Edition
• British American Business
• Confederation of British Industry
• Department of Business Innovation and Skills
• Department for International Development
• East London: Tech City Investment Organisation TCIO
• Euronext
• Scottish Development International
• ConnectIreland
  

Cultural/Educational

• International Universities/Programs
• Sister Cities International
• UK Government Websites