Embassy of the United States

Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs John D. Breidenstine

Message from John D. Breidenstine, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs

"The United States and the United Kingdom share an extraordinary trade and investment relationship. Our bilateral foreign direct investment, the world’s largest valued at nearly $1 trillion, supports a total of approximately two million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.

Our annual trade in goods and services exceeds $200 billion, with more than 42,000 US companies actively doing business in the United Kingdom.

In support of President Obama’s National Export Initiative, the Commercial Service promotes U.S. exports and advocates on behalf of U.S. business interests, while also showcasing the United States as the premier destination for tourism.

Another feature of our work is SelectUSA, a program launched in June 2011 by President Obama to facilitate foreign direct investment by providing easy access to federal-level programs and services related to business investment.

Whether you would like to partner with U.S. exporters or invest in the United States, we stand ready to assist you. "

More on the National Export Initiative

President Obama announced the National Export Initiative (NEI) two years ago, with the goal of doubling exports by 2014. U.S. embassies are committed to supporting U.S. companies to start exporting or grow their exports to the United Kingdom. In this section, you will find a quick description of the United Kingdom as an export market and some suggestions for getting started.