The UK Government has launched its first post-Brexit Trade Strategy, designed to unlock £5 billion in opportunities for British businesses and expand UK Export Finance (UKEF) capacity to £80 billion. The strategy focuses on faster, more practical trade deals, stronger export support, and improved protection against unfair global trading practices.
This milestone comes after consistent lobbying by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) for a strategy that works for business. It was officially highlighted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer MP during his keynote speech at the BCC Global Annual Conference at the QEII Centre in Westminster on 26 June. Read the PM's full remarks here.
Key Highlights:
- Faster, targeted trade deals, especially in services and high-growth sectors.
- Launch of the Ricardo Fund to help UK exporters tackle global regulatory barriers.
- A new Small Export Builder to help SMEs access export insurance more easily.
- Stronger trade defence tools to protect against unfair international practices.
- Expanded green trade agreements with countries like Japan, Norway, and South Korea.
- Joining the WTO’s MPIA to reinforce the UK’s commitment to fair, rules-based trade.
BCC Director General Shevaun Haviland welcomed the strategy, calling it “a clear, evidence-based approach to raising the UK’s export game,” and highlighted the importance of local Chamber Networks in delivering its success.
The strategy comes after major deals with India, the US, and the EU—each reducing tariffs, cutting red tape, and opening markets for everything from whisky and steel to services and salmon.
With a smarter, more agile approach, the UK is positioning itself as the most connected trading nation in the world—supporting local economies, boosting wages, and ensuring British businesses can compete and thrive globally.