The United Kingdom is one of the biggest markets American companies sell to, and one of the easiest to work with. A shared language, similar business culture and long trading ties make it a natural first step for a New York business looking to buy or sell overseas.
The numbers back it up. In 2024 the US bought around £58 billion of goods from the UK and sold about £66 billion back, roughly £259 billion of trade once services are counted in. The US is the UK’s single biggest trading partner, so whichever way you trade, you are on a well-worn route both sides know well.
Why the UK is a good place to start
For a first venture abroad, the UK removes much of the usual friction. You are trading in English, with familiar-looking contracts and suppliers used to selling to American buyers. Payment terms, standards and business hours all sit close to what you know.
The rules have settled down, too. Under the US–UK Economic Prosperity Deal agreed in 2025, most UK goods now enter the US at a 10% baseline tariff, with lower or zero rates on sectors such as pharmaceuticals and aerospace parts. Knowing the rate up front helps you price properly before you commit.
Work out what you are trading
Be clear about the direction of travel. A New York business might import British goods to sell here, food and drink, clothing, machinery, or sell its own products to UK buyers. The paperwork and shipping differ by direction, so decide early.
Whichever way round, do your homework on the other party: check the company is real and registered, order a paid sample first, and agree quantities, sizes, delivery dates and payment terms in writing. A short check at the start costs far less than a shipment you cannot use.
Get the customs paperwork right
Every product that crosses the Atlantic needs a commodity code, and that code decides the duty and tax you pay. Get it wrong and you either overpay for years or face a bill plus penalties later.
Both countries want the same core documents, a commercial invoice, a packing list and the right customs entries, and they need to match, or a shipment can be held at the port while storage charges build. Confirm the commodity code before you ship, check whether your goods need any licences or safety marks, and build duty and tax into your pricing from the start.
Choose the right way to ship
For transatlantic trade, this comes down to sea or air. Air freight is quick but expensive, so it suits small, high-value or urgent goods. For anything bulky, heavy or planned in advance, the sea is far cheaper, with plenty of capacity between the main UK ports and the Port of New York and New Jersey.
For most companies moving full or shared containers, sea freight shipping to USA from the UK gives the best balance of cost and reliability. Book a full container (FCL) if you can fill one, or share space (LCL) for smaller quantities. The trade-off is time: sea freight is slower, so order early and build it into your stock planning.
Understand your true landed cost
One of the most common early mistakes is treating the price of the goods as the full cost. It rarely is. The Incoterms, the rules that set out who pays for what, and who carries the risk, decide how much of the journey sits with you. Your landed cost also includes inland transport, freight, insurance, duty, tax, customs charges and final delivery. Agree the Incoterm in writing before you order, and ask for a full landed-cost estimate.
Lean on people who know the route
International shipping has many moving parts, and one missing form can hold a whole container while charges pile up. A good freight forwarder does this every day. A partner that handles both shipping and customs can book space at a good rate, prepare your documents, clear customs on both sides, and flag problems early. For a first move into UK trade, the time and worry you save usually outweigh the fee.
The bottom line
Trading with the UK is one of the more straightforward ways for a New York business to start buying or selling abroad. The market is familiar, the rules have settled, and the route is busy and well served. Get your customs codes and costs right, pick the shipping method that fits, and lean on people who know the crossing. Do that, and a first order across the Atlantic becomes a dependable part of how you trade.