Cultural tips for doing business in the United Kingdom

Canada and the United Kingdom have a long and robust trading relationship. Both members of the G7, G20 and Commonwealth, bilateral trade between our two nations reached US$27.8 billion in 2020 alone.

Made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the U.K. is a strong market of interest for Canadian companies across a diverse range of sectors, including energy and renewables, infrastructure and transportation, advanced technologies and manufacturing, and financial services. It’s also an important source of foreign direct investment for Canada, ranking third after the United States and the Netherlands.

But if you’re looking to expand into the U.K.’s markets, misreading the tone of a meeting or sharing your political opinions with a potential partner or customer could sour the business relationship.