The UK gets significant goods and services from the US, primarily machinery, fuels (crude oil, natural gas), chemicals (medicines), and aircraft, alongside major service imports like other business services and financial/consulting services, making the US a key partner for both physical goods and high-value service sectors. Recent trade deals also impact sectors like cars, steel, beef, and ethanol imports.
We produce 53 million tonnes of oil per year in our waters, with an estimated 45 million tonnes of UK-produced oil leaving our shores. The UK imported 51 million tonnes of oil and oil products from countries including Norway, the US, Algeria and Canada.
The service sector dominates, contributing 82% of GDP; the financial services industry is particularly important, and London is the second-largest financial centre in the world.
Along with playing host to the 'Big Three' of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler (now part of Stellantis), the USA is also host to manufacturing facilities for brands such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Volkswagen. These are the homegrown models that make their way across the Atlantic to be sold in Britain.
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How much does the UK rely on the USA?
Total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and United States1 was £331.2 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2025, an increase of 6.2% or £19.4 billion in current prices from the four quarters to the end of Q2 2024.
China sits firmly at the top, exporting around $3.6 trillion in goods—more than the United States and Germany combined. The U.S. follows with $2.1 trillion, while Germany ranks third with nearly $1.7 trillion, reflecting its strong automotive and industrial base.
The volume of imports is driven by the level of domestic production, market conditions such as the price, existing stock levels, and customer demand. Due to environmental and climate conditions, the UK is consistently reliant on imports to meet demand for some arable crops.
Cars were the most valuable type of commodity exported from the United Kingdom in 2024, with exports of this commodity valued at approximately 32.9 billion British pounds.
Factors in the vote included sovereignty, immigration, the economy and anti-establishment politics, amongst various other influences. The result of the referendum was that 51.8% of the votes were in favour of leaving the European Union.
The country with the most oil in the world by proven reserves is Venezuela, holding around 303 billion barrels, mostly heavy crude in the Orinoco Belt, followed by Saudi Arabia and Iran. While Venezuela has the largest reserves, Saudi Arabia and the United States are major producers, with the U.S. often leading in production volume, although this fluctuates.
Luxembourg has the world's highest GDP per capita but no crude reserves. Lebanon, one of the poorest nations, is in the same position. Hong Kong is one of the smallest countries in the world geographically, while Kenya is among the largest. Neither has any proven reserves.
What food does the UK import most of? The UK's biggest food imports are fruit and vegetables. The UK's climate is characterised by mild summers and cool winters, often with high rainfall. This climate is suitable for growing certain fruits and vegetables such as apples, brassicas, potatoes and other root crops.
The UK economy consistently ranks as the world's sixth-largest by nominal GDP, behind the US, China, Japan, Germany, and India, a position it's projected to hold for several years despite slower growth compared to some others. It's a highly developed service-based economy, strong in finance, but its share of the global economy has been shrinking, and productivity growth lags behind other G7 nations.
