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 work:

Foreign direct investment and national security regimes

This report examines how re-evaluating the UK's investment screening regime under the National Security & Investment Act, 2021, is crucial for balancing national security with economic growth. It outlines international best practices to refine the UK's approach, ensuring it remains competitive and attractive to investors.

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Catalysing bilateral growth: Connecting India and the UK’s equity capital markets

In this latest report by the India-UK Financial Partnership (IUKFP), its working group has provided a set of actionable recommendations to enhance bilateral equity capital markets connectivity through equity share cross listings between Indian and UK stock exchanges.

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Our latest international trade and investment news:

New research: Refining UK FDI regime can drive investment and growth

News

Chair’s address from our International Conference 2025

Blog

A fund by any other name? Inside the fast-moving world of Sovereign Investment Vehicles

UK and India look to strengthen capital market connectivity

Events:

TheCityUK International Conference 2025

Watch all of the session recordings from our International Conference, including keynotes, panel sessions and in conversations 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 2025

Register now for the Future Skills Conference 2025, in partnership with Financial Services Skills Commission, which will take place in London on Thursday 22 May 2025.

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