In a historic move for post-Brexit Britain, the UK government has sealed its biggest-ever US state-level trade agreement - a £1.2 billion economic partnership with Texas that promises to turbocharge British exports across the Atlantic.
A New Era in Transatlantic Trade
The groundbreaking deal, signed by Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, establishes a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) that will slash red tape for UK businesses exporting professional services to the Lone Star State. This marks the first such agreement between Texas and any European nation since Brexit.
Key benefits include:
- Streamlined access for British architects, engineers and accountants to Texas' booming $2.4 trillion economy
- Reciprocal recognition of professional qualifications between UK and Texan regulators
- Potential to expand the agreement to other US states in future negotiations
Why Texas Matters
With its economy larger than Russia's and home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other state, Texas represents a golden opportunity for UK firms. The deal specifically targets high-growth sectors where Britain holds competitive advantage:
- Architectural services (£142m annual export potential)
- Engineering consultancy (£89m projected growth)
- Financial and legal services (£310m opportunity)
"This isn't just about removing barriers - it's about planting the Union Jack firmly in one of America's most dynamic economies," a Whitehall source told us.
The Brexit Dividend Realised?
While critics warned of trade isolation after leaving the EU, this agreement demonstrates Britain's newfound agility in striking tailored deals. The Texas pact comes just months after similar MRAs with Indiana and North Carolina, suggesting a pattern of targeted state-level engagement that could collectively rival EU trade volumes.
The Department for Business and Trade estimates the deal could boost UK services exports to Texas by 30% within five years, supporting thousands of high-skilled British jobs. With negotiations underway with seven more US states, this may be just the beginning of Britain's state-by-state American trade strategy.
