BAB Policy and Trade Update

Welcome to the September BABN Policy and Trade Update.

The UK government saw further confirmations of senior officials, while colleagues from across the BritishAmerican Business Network (BABN) came together for our annual workshop in July, giving chapters the chance to share priorities and strengthen collaboration across the network.

On 10 August, the UK government appointed Alex Milward as the new HM Trade Commissioner for North America and Consul General in New York, with direct responsibility for trade promotion and commercial relations across the US and Canada. Milward takes the helm from Oliver Christian, who has returned to London. Milward will be supported by Deputy Trade Commissioner, Alan Gogbashian.

Looking ahead, BAB will monitor and engage with several key events and initiatives, including New York Climate Week, UNGA, UK Party Conferences and the B20 meetings in Washington, DC.

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Headlines

Burnham Government: Cabinet Update

Overview: Following Andy Burnham's appointment as Prime Minister on 20 July, a series of cabinet appointments brought new leadership to departments central to the UK-US economic relationship, including the Treasury, foreign affairs and trade.

Key appointments:

Chancellor of the Exchequer: John Healey, moving from his previous role as Defence Secretary
Foreign Secretary: Ed Miliband, previously Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Secretary: Jonathan Reynolds, returning to a role he held until September 2025
Business Adviser: Varun Chandra, reappointed to the role

Additional changes of note:

Defence Secretary: Wes Streeting, previously Health and Social Care Secretary
Health and Social Care Secretary: Yvette Cooper, previously Foreign Secretary
Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary: Miatta Fahnbulleh, previously a minister in the department
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary: Angela Eagle, returning to Defra, where she previously served as a minister
Artificial Intelligence Minister: Kanishka Narayan, previously a junior minister covering AI and online safety, with the portfolio now represented at cabinet level for the first time

Next steps: BAB has been engaging with relevant Cabinet members and ministers following the formation of the new government, highlighting the organisation's recent work and priorities. Our existing relationships with the Chancellor, Business Secretary and other senior officials will support our advocacy in the months ahead.

BAB Welcomes Alex Milward

Overview: BAB welcomed Alex Milward's appointment as HM Trade Commissioner for North America and Consul General in New York on 19 August. We look forward to working with him and colleagues across the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and the FCDO to strengthen transatlantic ties and support businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

Read more: See our statement here.

Policy Work

Looking Ahead

Overview: September marks the start of a busy autumn policy calendar on both sides of the Atlantic, spanning party conference season, the new government's first Budget and the G20 agenda.

Key dates:

G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Ministerial (31 August-1 September, Asheville, NC): US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will host G20 counterparts, with senior US business leaders also expected to attend
UK Parliament Returns (1 September): MPs return following the summer recess, with party conference season beginning the same week
Climate Week NYC (20-27 September, New York): The annual climate summit will bring together governments, businesses and investors on climate and energy issues.
UN General Assembly High-Level Week (22-28 September, New York): World leaders will gather for the General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly, with side events on trade, energy and economic cooperation.
Labour Party Conference (27-30 September, Liverpool): Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first as party leader, with Chancellor Healey expected to use his own speech to signal priorities ahead of the Budget
Autumn Budget (28 October): Chancellor Healey's first Budget, with the Office for Budget Responsibility publishing its economic and fiscal forecast the same day
B20 USA Summit (9-11 November, Washington, DC): The G20’s business forum comes to the US for the first time, bringing together business leaders to shape policy recommendations for world leaders ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit on 14-15 December

BAB policy agenda: BAB will publish the latest edition of its annual Transatlantic Confidence Index in September. We will also continue our policy work and member engagement on issues including energy costs and life sciences competitiveness.

Thank you for reading this month's Policy and Trade Update. If you have any feedback or comments please contact us.

BAB participates in and offers policy and trade support to the BritishAmerican Business Network, a group of 18 independent trade organisations across North America and the U.K. If you would like to learn more about the network and its activities, please visit our website.

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