
Tech West England expands China trade mission plans for 2026. The programme pairs a November mission to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong with a June UK Market Discovery Tour timed to London Tech Week.

Metro Bank is expanding hedging tools for business customers further. The bank’s new FX Forwards offer, powered by Equals Money, is designed to help corporate and commercial clients manage exchange-rate risk and plan payments with greater certainty.

Vamoosh is taking its pet-hair technology into Target stores nationwide. The British homecare brand said its US rollout comes as it celebrates 10 years of growth, patent expansion, and a broader range of laundry and cleaning products.

US tariffs trigger sharp drop in British exports to America. New trade barriers cut the value of UK goods shipped to the US by more than 10% in 2025, with clothing, footwear, artworks, and cars among the sectors recording the steepest declines.

Washington may tie AI chip exports to investment at home. The proposed framework would extend export-control scrutiny to allies, raising fresh questions for companies planning data centre buildouts, sovereign AI capacity, and long-term access to advanced compute.

UK engages with US over Trump’s tariff increase. The UK is negotiating with the US following President Trump’s decision to raise the global tariff rate to 15%. The UK had previously secured a 10% rate but is now affected by the increase.

Chancellor prioritises EU ties as UK’s key growth lever. Rachel Reeves said closer economic and security alignment with the European Union represents the “biggest prize” for Britain’s future prosperity, citing trade scale and the need to reduce post-Brexit friction.

Strong ESG performance supports international R&D expansion and innovation outcomes. New academic research suggests companies with credible environmental, social, and governance records are better positioned to build overseas research operations, attract partners, and access global innovation ecosystems.

UK manufacturers reduce US exports due to tariff uncertainties. A survey reveals that 20% of factories have already reduced exports, with 16% planning to follow. Despite this, the US remains a key market, though manufacturers are shifting towards local sourcing.

US and India strike trade deal easing tariffs and reshaping energy flows. Washington will cut tariffs on Indian goods to 18% as New Delhi commits to ending purchases of Russian oil, a move already reverberating across equity markets, energy supply chains, and bilateral trade expectations.