America at 250: Why the West Midlands relationship matters more than ever
Written by Jayne Hume, head of Greater Birmingham Global Chamber of Commerce
As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its independence, it is an important moment not only to reflect on history, but to look ahead at one of the West Midlands’ most significant international relationships.
The UK and the US have long shared deep economic, cultural and commercial ties. Today, that relationship is very visible in the region in investment, jobs, exports and innovation. The US remains the UK’s largest trading partner, accounting for 17.5 per cent of total UK trade in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2025. Total UK-US trade in goods and services stood at £331.5 billion, with UK exports to the US reaching £202.7 billion.
For the West Midlands, the relationship is especially important. In 2025, the region exported £6.5 billion of goods to the United States, representing 11.8 per cent of all UK goods exports to the US.
That strength was evident during the visit of a US Embassy delegation to Birmingham in March 2026, hosted by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
Led by Brenda VanHorn, Senior commercial officer at the Embassy’s US Commercial Service, the delegation saw first hand how American investment is helping to shape the region’s future — from Birmingham City Football Club’s transformational Sports Quarter, backed by US owners Knighthead Capital Management, to Digbeth Loc Studios, HS2’s Curzon Street site and a roundtable with SMEs exploring growth in the US market.
Ms VanHorn’s message was clear: companies looking at the UK should “look beyond London”. That message matters. Between 2020 and 2026, US companies announced 59 foreign direct investment projects in the West Midlands, creating more than 5,000 jobs and committing $2.36 billion in capital. Over the same period, West Midlands firms announced more than 20 investment projects into the US, creating around 1,500 jobs and investing approximately £243 million.
There is also a longer Birmingham story here. When America declared independence in 1776, there was not yet a Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. But Birmingham was already becoming a place known for enterprise, ingenuity and trade.
By 1813, the Birmingham Chamber had been founded as one of the early bodies created to connect business with government, build networks between firms and support the commercial interests of industry.
More than two centuries later, that purpose remains familiar. The tools have changed — from canals and trademarks to global supply chains, digital services, advanced manufacturing, creative industries and transatlantic investment but the fundamentals are the same: relationships, trust, practical support and ambition.
As America marks 250 years of independence, the West Midlands should see this not simply as a historical anniversary, but as a commercial opportunity.
Our region has the innovation, talent, manufacturing strength, sporting profile and professional expertise to deepen its relationship with the US for many years to come.
Pictured: US Embassy and Chamber representatives at Digbeth Loc studios