New UK Export Strategy
There’s a world of opportunity, matched by the UK’s export potential — our strongest export markets are typically found in markets like the United States or Europe.
However, the global economy is changing. Rapid economic growth in the Indo-Pacific region is shifting the world’s centre of economic gravity eastwards.
Exports are a critical part of our economy — exports support millions of jobs in the UK and there are important links between trade and productivity. This strategy will build the exporting capability of critical sectors, such as tech and clean economy to support the government’s Innovation Strategy, Net Zero Strategy and Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.
We are refreshing our approach to meet our trading context — our 2018 Export Strategy laid strong foundations for export policy, promotion and support. Since then, the trading environment has changed significantly.
Our ambition is to reach £1 trillion in exports annually — projections suggest that we will reach £1 trillion in exports annually by the mid-2030s. We can get there faster if we work together.
This strategy will be the joint framework for us to accelerate that race and grow our economy through exports. 05 Made in the UK, Sold to the World Delivering in partnership with business is critical — we will work with business on implementation and continue to challenge ourselves on improving our offer.
We will use existing governance to monitor implementation and use our new monitoring and evaluation framework to assess our progress.
Made in the UK, Sold to the World — the strategy comprises a 12-point plan which sets out the path that government will take to transform our offer and Build Back Better, allowing us to level up and project Global Britain, supporting strategic sectors. Among other initiatives the plan includes a range of new support measures, including the new Export Support Service (ESS) and the UK Export Academy.
We are ready to trade with our closest trading partners, emerging economies and developing markets — we know our work to open markets in the Indo-Pacific is critical if we want to maximise our comparative advantage and export performance. We will develop new relationships in these regions, for example through our accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), while also strengthening ties with other longstanding trading partners.
Our strategy is underpinned by core values — we take pride in our values, which align to exporting best practices, and which we will uphold and reflect in our trade agreements. We will not compromise our commitments to protect the environment and tackle climate change through trade and will continue to champion equality opportunity for all. We are also committed to upholding rules-based trade.
Download the UK Export Strategy
Free trade is evolving, and the UK has an important opportunity to trade more and trade differently. We are embarking on a new era in our trading relationships, negotiating innovative, world-leading free trade agreements (FTAs) with the markets of the future.
Download the UK Export Strategy
Made in the UK, Sold to the World
We will extend our hugely successful Export Campaign designed to promote great UK products and services, with the agri-food and drink sector at its core amongst others. Our new cross-cutting, national export promotion campaign Made in the UK, Sold to the World hosts trade promotion activities across the UK. The campaign engages with businesses and signposts them to the support they need to seize exporting opportunities.
Our campaign has already begun with work to celebrate and support exporters in education, agriculture and the creative services. The campaign includes events, masterclasses, webinars, trade missions, ‘Meet the Buyer’ events,
businesses roundtables, Ministerial visits and much more.
Simultaneously, the GREAT campaign promotes the UK as the preferred supplier of goods and services in international markets. Whilst GREAT focuses on the supply-side, our overseas network with its global reach identifies markets UK businesses can meet.
We will connect buyers to UK firms and ensure the smallest businesses from every region can champion Global Britain. We will help both those exporting for the first time and established exporters wanting to grow their market share.
We will open and promote new markets and trade opportunities so that UK exporters can reap the benefits. We will focus domestically and internationally in the following sectors:
• Agri-food and drink
• Financial, professional and business services
• Creative industries
• Education
• Tech and digital
• Consumer and luxury goods
• Clean growth
Our objective is to enable economic recovery through exports and create jobs across the UK. Our message to businesses is simple: grow by exporting.
