- Greg Hands MP, in his capacity as Trade Minister, had a short but very productive visit to Washington DC.
- Greg held talks with leading figures from British - American Business to understand how trade is being thought about in Washington DC, and across the US to help strengthen the UK-US Trade relationship.
- Greg held meetings and explored ways to build upon last year’s Atlantic Declaration.
Greg Hands MP, in his capacity as Trade Minister, completed a vibrant and productive visit to Washington DC.
Greg is familiar with Congress, having previously worked there before embarking on his career as an MP. Greg was in Washington DC to meet with trade representatives, associations, and businesses. As a part of the UK Trade delegation, Greg emphasised the pivotal role of businesses in strengthening the ‘special’ UK-US relationship.
With over a million Brits working in the US and an even greater number of Americans employed by British companies, the economic partnership continues to flourish, driving both countries to collaborate even more closely. Greg emphasised the mutually beneficial nature of the economic ties between the two nations, with the United States constituting the UK's largest trading partner.
Following the Atlantic Declaration announced last summer by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Greg engaged in discussions with the American delegation and key stakeholders on how to deepen cooperation, enhance supply chains, and tackle global challenges collaboratively. With the new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), both countries actively addressed barriers faced by businesses at the sub-national level, paving the way for new commercial opportunities.
Reflecting on the significance of the UK-US trade relationship, Greg highlighted how the two nations have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in their resolve to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion. Greg highlighted the need for cooperation on critical and emerging technologies and stronger protective toolkits. The summit explored ways to deepen trade and investment relationships and looked at ways to strengthen alliances across defence, science, health security, and space.
Greg held meetings with Representative Darin LaHood and Congresswoman Carol Miller as part of their role within the United States House Committee on Ways and Means, which helps develop the US’s outbound investment and digital trade. During Greg’s meeting with Representative Suzan DelBene the pair discussed the importance of the UK-US relationship in helping to resolve World Trade Organization issues such as digital trade, with Greg expressing his commitment to tariff-free digital trade for all parties.
Greg’s two day visit to Washington DC showcased the focus on advancing the UK trade relationship with the US and exploring avenues for continued collaboration and growth.
Commenting, Greg Hands said:
"We are leveraging our state-level partnerships to unlock new avenues for trade and investment," Greg remarked. "The signing of more MoUs in the future will further cement the economic ties between our nations",
"The economic partnership between the UK and the US is vital to both our nations' prosperity",. "We are committed to working together to address the economic challenges of our time and strengthen our trade ties".
ENDS
