Policy paper

Memorandum of understanding on trade and economic co-operation between the United Kingdom and the State of Oregon

Published 6 November 2025

This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is made by and between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (“the United Kingdom”) and the State of Oregon in the United States of America (“the State of Oregon”), (collectively, the “Participants” and each a “Participant”).

WHEREAS, the United Kingdom and the State of Oregon maintain strong historic, cultural and commercial links;

WHEREAS, the Participants recognise the overall importance of the economic relationship between the United States of America and the Participants, and the relationship between the United Kingdom and the State of Oregon;

WHEREAS, the Participants aspire to accelerate and secure the significant social and economic benefits that innovation, clean growth, efficient resource management and the transition to a more circular economy, addressing biodiversity loss and protecting the environment against air, water, and waste pollution deliver in building a greener and more resilient planet;

WHEREAS, the Participants support the objectives of the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, recognise the urgency of addressing global climate change and aim to strengthen bilateral co-operation to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century by decarbonising their economies, promoting sustainable growth, facilitating trade and investment in environmental goods and services, and building skilled and modern workforces;

WHEREAS, the Participants recognise that the mutually enabling relationship and links between trade and innovation are fundamental to economic growth and prosperity;

THEREFORE, the Participants, in the spirit of promoting closer relationships, intend to further support and work co-operatively within the boundaries of existing laws and treaties in their respective jurisdictions on objectives and issues as set forth below.

Section 1: objectives

Through this MOU, the United Kingdom and the State of Oregon intend to:

1. Increase trade between the United Kingdom and the State of Oregon through deepening economic development co-operation and trade relations.
2. Create a forum to identify and address existing or anticipated barriers to trade, investment and economic co-operation and development.
3. Foster innovation, strengthen business links, encourage the creation of decent work across all regions of the United Kingdom and the State of Oregon, support women’s economic empowerment and opportunities for women and under-represented people, including as employees, consumers, business owners and entrepreneurs, and in all interactions uphold the values of inclusive trade and inclusive growth.
4. Improve supply chain resilience through increased co-operation.
5. Grow academic and research ties through promoting collaborative projects, research and information exchange.
6. Support global decarbonisation and the pathway to net zero, including through meeting domestic commitments to the phase out of unabated coal power by no later than 2030 as participants in the Powering Past Coal Alliance, as well as ensuring a just transition for workers and communities traditionally reliant on fossil fuel economies.

Section 2: priority areas for focus and co-operation

1. In furtherance of the principle of mutual benefit, the Participants intend to prioritise the following areas for focus and co-operation (the “Priority Areas”) which include but are not limited to:
   a. digital, and technology, including semiconductors, software goods and services, cybersecurity goods and services, and innovation catapults
   b. clean energy and green technology, including decarbonisation, wind energy, zero emissions vehicles, hydrogen, related infrastructure and regulatory frameworks
   c. transport services and infrastructure, including passenger and freight rail infrastructure and services
   d. advanced manufacturing
   e. tourism, collaborate to support tourism in both markets, sharing insights and expertise
   f. innovation across sectors, including as it relates to the above Priority Areas
   
2. In addition, the Participants:
   a. reaffirm their existing obligations under the Revised World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (“WTO GPA”) and intend to explore opportunities to open access to markets covered in the WTO GPA and encourage private company participation in mutually acceptable government procurement markets of the United Kingdom and the State of Oregon. The Participants will maintain an open dialogue regarding current and future procurement trade related initiatives and developments
   b. intend to consider and, as appropriate, pursue solutions to specific market access barriers. This may include supporting regulators and professional bodies interested in pursuing recognition arrangements of professional qualifications
   

Section 3: activities and initiatives

To achieve the objectives described in Section 1 of this MOU, the Participants may carry out the following activities and initiatives:

1. Best Practice Exchange: share information and best practices in areas such as policy and programme design and implementation, capacity building, development of expertise to foster growth, inclusive trade and innovation across all sectors.
2. Trade Missions and Trade Promotion: conduct virtual and in-person missions with the Participants’ respective government officials and businesses to deepen co-ordination on policy and market development and collaborate on initiatives aimed at promoting trade in goods and services between the State of Oregon and the United Kingdom.
3. Private-Sector Partnership Development: facilitate introductions and partnerships among private sector companies through meetings, worker exchange programmes, and regional arrangements, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises and women-owned businesses.
4. Academic and Research Community Co-operation: connect research universities and thought leaders for information sharing, collaborations, and other types of co-operation, whilst simultaneously ensuring that any collaboration conforms to proportionate standards of research security and integrity.
5. Joint Projects and Events: collaborate on joint events such as symposia, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, and trainings.
6. Institutional and Corporate Investment: facilitate introductions and explore opportunities for public and private sector institutions to deploy development capital, whether directly or via third party funds, in areas including but not limited to: clean energy and green technology, digital, and technology, transport services and infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and tourism.

Section 4: implementation and working group

1. In addition to the activities and initiatives set out in Section 3 of this MOU, the Participants will, on a regular basis, inform and consult with one another on matters of common interest that represent opportunities for mutual benefit and are consistent with this MOU, and in all interactions aim to uphold values of inclusive trade and inclusive growth.
2. The Participants will meet annually in the form of a working group to co-ordinate the implementation of the MOU “the Working Group”. The first Working Group will be held within 6 months of signing this MOU.
3. Activities of the Working Group may include:
   a. identifying, and where appropriate addressing barriers to trade and investment
   b. consideration of matters relating to the interaction between innovation and trade, such as regulatory approaches that facilitate innovation and co-operation to identify and respond to potential and future disruptions to trade caused by innovation in goods and services
   c. exchange of best practice and information relevant to the Priority Areas outlined in Section 2 of this MOU
   d. facilitating, where appropriate, participation of stakeholders in the private sector and academic community to discuss matters pertinent to the MOU
   e. review the operation of the MOU to ensure it is continuously up to date and relevant for the growing United Kingdom-Oregon relationship
   f. carry out any other mutually acceptable forms of co-operation that contribute to the objectives of this MOU including facilitating introductions for relevant public and private sector institutions to explore investment opportunities
   
4. The United Kingdom may also raise issues of opportunity and mutual interest relating to territories for whose international relations the United Kingdom is responsible, where appropriate, namely the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey, the Isle of Man and the Overseas Territories.
5. The Participants designate the following co-ordinating authorities to oversee all interactions related to this MOU and its implementation:
   a. for the United Kingdom: the Department for Business and Trade or its successor, and the British Consulate General in San Francisco
   b. for the State of Oregon: the Oregon Business Development Department
   (trading as Business Oregon) or its successor, as the co-ordinating authority for all state agency interactions related to this MOU
   
6. The above designees will also be tasked with identifying participants for the Working Group.

Section 5: third party participation

1. The Participants acknowledge that individuals and entities from the private, public, academic, research, and other sectors may be invited to participate in the co-operative activities and initiatives described herein, provided that such individuals and/or entities can directly and meaningfully contribute to the achievements of the objectives of the MOU.
2. Subject to each Participant’s absolute discretion, this third party participation in the activities and initiatives under this MOU may include, but is not limited to, the involvement of research institutions, economic development organisations, regional or local levels of government, non-governmental and advisory bodies, private enterprise, trade associations, and/or public-private partnerships.
3. The Participants acknowledge that participation in the activities and initiatives under this MOU by third parties will be subject to the Information Sharing and Confidentiality provisions at Section 6 of this MOU.

Section 6: information sharing and confidentiality

1. The Participants recognise that to facilitate the objectives of this MOU, information may pass between them. The sharing of information under this MOU is subject to the following provisions:
   a. the Participants may only use the information for purposes which further the objectives of this MOU
   b. the Participants may only disclose any part of the information to a third party if the Participant wishing to disclose the information seeks and obtains prior written consent from the other Participant, except in circumstances described below in subparagraph c
   c. in circumstances where either Participant is legally obliged to disclose any information related to this MOU under applicable legislation, by court order (or for another reason) it will inform the other Participant before doing so
   

Section 7: intellectual property

1. The Participants acknowledge that any intellectual property brought by one Participant for the implementation of this MOU will remain the property of that Participant.
2. In the event that any intellectual property rights should arise from activity carried out in accordance with this MOU, the Participants understand it will be attributed and protected in accordance with the Participants’ respective state and national laws, and it will be subject to separate and specific arrangements concluded between the Participants in relation to the specific activity.

Section 8: funding

The Participants understand that this MOU does not commit either Participant to financially support any activity carried out under its provisions.

Section 9: interpretation and application of this MOU

The Participants are committed to acting in good faith. Any disagreements between the Participants about the interpretation or application of this MOU will only be settled by consultation and negotiation between the Participants and not referred to any third party, court, or tribunal.

Section 10: entry into operation, amendment and termination

1. This MOU will come into operation on the date of the later of the Participants’ signatures and will continue to have effect until it is terminated or renewed.
2. The Participants may amend this MOU at any time upon their mutual written consent.
3. Either Participant may terminate this MOU by providing 45 days’ written notice of its withdrawal to the other Participant.

Section 11: status of this MOU

1. This MOU is not legally binding under state, national or international law and does not create any legal obligation to undertake or to financially support any activity.
2. The Participants confirm that all actions they carry out under this MOU will be subject as appropriate to national, state, and international law, and any other applicable rules and obligations.
3. This MOU does not affect the rights of and obligations of third parties or the rights of the Participants to conclude arrangements or agreements with respect to any matter described in this MOU.

The foregoing record represents the understandings reached between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the State of Oregon in the United States of America upon the matters referred to therein.

This MOU is signed on Wednesday 5 November 2025 in Salem, Oregon by:

Eleanor Kiloh

His Majesty’s Consul General in San Franciso

For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Tina Kotek

Governor

For the State of Oregon