I bid you greetings from the US Commercial Service, the international business development arm of the US Department of Commerce. With 107 US Export Assistance Centers in the US and more than 150 international offices, we are the US government agency that assists US companies, particularly small and medium-sized, to sell their products and expand their business activities in the global market.

In the UK, we provide our clients with a wide range of business facilitation services, customised market research and business development support, ranging from assistance in performing due diligence to advocating on behalf of US commercial interests in the public and private sectors. In serving our clients and fulfilling our mission goals, we place a high priority on working closely with our counterparts at UK Trade & Investment and our strategic partners, such as the British-American Business Council (BABC) and its affiliated member organisations, the Confederation of American States in Europe (CASE), the Association of US Representatives Abroad (AURA) and many other business groups that share our commitment to broadening and deepening our US-UK commercial ties.

We believe that global competitiveness and economic development in the US should be driven by the private sector. Therefore, our role as a US government agency is to provide our companies the framework that is needed to support our nation’s economic growth and prosperity by identifying opportunities, facilitating market access and advancing the interests of our US companies in the global market.

We believe that there is great potential growth that could be realised by our small and medium-sized exporters by partnering with companies in the UK. Our small and medium-sized firms make up 97% of all US exporting companies, but account for less than 30% of the total value of US exports of goods. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of our small and medium-sized exporters sell to only one foreign market.

With more than 95% of the world’s consumers living outside the US, our message to our small and medium-sized firms is to become involved in our transatlantic relationship and consider the UK market, not only as an end in itself, but also as a gateway and a potential base for sales and marketing throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

There are many factors that contribute to the extraordinary high level of trade and investment that exists between our two countries and makes the UK our number one export market in Europe. Our shared history, language and culture, open and receptive markets and shared business values are key elements in this special relationship.

Market access, as well as the legal, social and tax structures that support business development and trade, are also crucial factors. All things considered, there really is no better market, nor better partner, than the UK for US small and medium-sized companies seeking to expand their business to Europe.

My team and I sincerely enjoy working with our US clients and we look to all of our contacts in the UK to help us identify new business opportunities and build new business partnerships that will contribute to future economic growth and prosperity, increased productivity and job creation in both of our countries.

We measure our success on the basis of these goals and our clients’ success in meeting their transatlantic business objectives. If you share our interests in this endeavour, please do not hesitate to call on the US Commercial Service at the US Embassy in London. We look forward to hearing from you.

For further information on our programmes and services, call or write to:
The US Commercial Service
US Embassy London
24 Grosvenor Square
London, W1A 1AE
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7408 8019
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7408 8020
E-mail: london.office.box@mail.doc.gov