A new agreement aims to help promote trade opportunities for engineering and manufacturing companies in the UK and USA.
Signed by the manufacturers’ organisation EEF and its US counterpart, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the deal is being heralded as a bid to boost cross-Atlantic trade for firms in the manufacturing sector.
The agreement – which initially spans three years – will focus on promoting and raising awareness of the possibilities of trade in both countries.
Focusing specifically on opportunities for engineering and manufacturing companies, the agreement will include the sharing of market intelligence data. The two organisations will also help facilitate visits and economic delegations aimed at promoting trade and investment, as well as sharing promotional opportunities at trade fairs and other events.
The EEF and NAM say they intend to provide opportunities to meet both UK and US politicians, as well as senior manufacturing leaders from both countries.
Under the agreement, the EEF will have an associate member of staff in Washington to help co-ordinate and manage day-to-day activities, including creating an EEF-NAM Policy Forum.
Announcing the move, EEF Chief Executive Terry Scuoler said that the USA is a vital market for UK industry and is likely to assume even more importance in the wake of Brexit, as the UK seeks to extend its trade links across the globe.
“I am delighted to sign this agreement with our US counterpart, which will hopefully provide mutually beneficial opportunities for manufacturers in both countries,” he concluded.
