The UK and the US state of Texas will sign an agreement on Tuesday for closer trade co-operation as the government pursues state-level deals in the absence of a wider free trade agreement with the America.
The agreement will be formally signed in Westminster on Wednesday by Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Although not a trade deal, because US states do not have the power to sign them, it is similar to a preliminary agreement designed to improve co-operation between businesses in Britain and Texas and tackle regulatory barriers to trade.
“I’m delighted to welcome Governor Abbott to the UK for this landmark signing," Ms Badenoch said.
“Today’s signature with Texas marks the UK’s eighth US state-level pact, meaning UK firms now have access to states with a combined GDP of £5.3 trillion [$6.8 trillion] – equivalent to a quarter of the whole US economy.
"This shows our US state-level strategy is working and really delivering for British businesses.”
The agreement is aimed particularly at the energy sector, as well as life sciences and business services.
Even before the signing of the agreement, British businesses had already enjoyed success in Texas.
The government’s BioBridge collaboration with the Texas Medical Centre has helped 30 UK life sciences companies to grow their business in the state.
“As our ninth-largest trade partner, the United Kingdom plays a critical role in the Texas economic juggernaut," Mr Abbott said.
“Strengthening the bond between Texas and the United Kingdom is crucial for our shared economies to prosper.
“By signing this Statement of Mutual Co-operation today, we will further promote economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic.
“Texas is the economic engine of America, where entrepreneurs from around the globe can cast a vision and know they can achieve it.
"Working with our British partners, we will chart a greater path towards success and opportunity, and create an even more robust economic partnership.”
Achieving a free trade agreement with America had been part of the Conservatives’ 2019 manifesto.
But progress towards a deal has stalled, with Ms Badenoch blaming a lack of interest on the part of the current US administration.
Instead, the UK has pursued state-level deals, including with Indiana in May 2022 and most recently with Florida in November last year.
Although these agreements do not lower tariffs as a free-trade deal would, they can provide some help for businesses through recognising UK qualifications or addressing state-level regulatory issues.
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus
To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.
The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.
SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.
But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
The specs
Price, base: Dh228,000 / Dh232,000 (est)
Engine: 5.7-litre Hemi V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 552Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.5L / 100km
Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.
The specs: 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
Price, base / as tested Dh207,846 / Dh220,000
Engine 6.2L V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque 624Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined 13.5L / 100km
