UK-Washington trade and investment highlights
Updated 25 June 2021
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The US and UK have a strong trade relationship worth more than $260 billion a year, and a total of $1 trillion invested in each other’s economies. This relationship plays a pivotal role in Washington’s economy and supports thousands of jobs in the state.
Washington jobs supported by UK companies
23,000 Washingtonians employed by UK subsidiaries in 2018
18,990 jobs are supported by exports from Washington to the UK worth $3.6 billion in 2019.
Value of exports to the UK from Washington
The UK was the 5th largest export market for Washington in 2019
Total value of Washington goods exports to the UK $1.8 billion
Total value of Washington services exports to the UK $1.8 billion
Top exports from Washington to the UK 2019
| Top Washington goods exports to the UK | US$ |
|---|---|
| Aerospace products and parts | $955 million |
| Navigational and measurement instruments | $72 million |
| Motor vehicle parts | $65 million |
| Computer equipment | $55 million |
| Electrical accessories & parts | $55 million |
| Top Washington services exports to the UK | US$ |
|---|---|
| Software distribution royalties | $396 million |
| Personal travel and tourism | $242 million |
| Passenger fares | $136 million |
| Air freight and port services | $108 million |
| Business management and consulting services | $107 million |
Trends in exports from Washington to the UK 2010 to 2019
| Year | Goods exports to the UK (in $) | Services exports to the UK (in $) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,242,355,329 | 1,228,991,688 |
| 2011 | 1,999,023,260 | 1,358,034,446 |
| 2012 | 1,573,036,723 | 1,477,085,451 |
| 2013 | 2,669,834,703 | 1,526,958,923 |
| 2014 | 2,914,974,412 | 1,611,190,937 |
| 2015 | 2,496,770,693 | 1,664,806,701 |
| 2016 | 3,483,205,799 | 1,646,050,675 |
| 2017 | 1,728,919,857 | 1,783,843,790 |
| 2018 | 4,004,359,667 | 2,074,496,778 |
| 2019 | 1,838,753,893 | 1,796,788,857 |
Find out more about investing in, and trading with the UK.
Sources
Goods, jobs and services estimates prepared by The Trade Partnership and derived from U.S. government and private industry data.
Companies trading with the UK from US Census, “A Profile of U.S. Importing and Exporting Companies, 2017-2018.”
Estimate of employment by UK subsidiaries from Bureau of Economic Analysis, Foreign Direct Investment in the United States database.