International trade and investment

Our international work

A key priority of our international strategy is to contribute to the development of a UK trade and investment policy that promotes the international growth of member firms and advances the UK’s world-leading position in financial and related professional services.

With the support of our International Trade and Investment Group, we do this by:

  • Encouraging collaboration between industry, government and regulators to promote the UK’s international competitiveness, grow the UK’s share in global financial and professional services’ markets, and build new capabilities in key areas of future growth
  • Developing and maintaining bilateral trade and investment. relationships with major trading partners and countries which present significant opportunities for UK-based companies.
  • Ensuring these key relationships help deliver UK ambitions in plurilateral and multilateral contexts, influencing the future shape of the UK’s regulatory, legal and tax regimes and the approach of its regulatory and supervisory authorities; this includes the evolution of the frameworks affecting businesses as they adapt to technological, environmental and social change.
  • Developing potential opportunities for the industry in developed, emerging and niche markets.
  • Supporting key market initiatives and services trade.
  • Continuing to be a partner to UK Government efforts to deepen economic relationships with key markets such as the US, China, Switzerland, Japan and Singapore.
  • Drawing on work of the International Regulatory Strategy Group (IRSG) on international standards and multilateral/cross-cutting regulatory issues across different markets to advise the work of the Market Advisory Groups.

Scroll through the infographics below to find out more about the UK’s status as an international finance centre:

Our latest international trade and investment news:

UK retains world-leading financial services trade surplus and global hub status

Press release

Call on UK government to set out longer-term vision on how to build a nation of investors

Press release

The UK’s £10trn asset management sector bolsters global position with strong growth

Press release

US–UK financial giants call for fast-track regulatory reform to power jobs, growth and innovation

Events:

TheCityUK International Conference 2026

Join us in April at our International Conference 2026, which will feature keynotes and panel sessions discussing how the UK can underpin its position as a world-leading international financial centre.

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TheCityUK and Financial Services Skills Commission Future Skills Conference 2026

Join us in May for the Future Skills Conference 2025, in partnership with Financial Services Skills Commission

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