RALEIGH – The United Kingdom has signed a trade and economic Memorandum of Understanding with North Carolina targeting more trade between the U.K. and the state.

The partnership is aimed to boost collaboration between the two entities, including in clean energy sectors and in energy infrastructure, according to a statement from the British Consulate-General.

“With this memorandum, we will deepen economic and cultural ties with the United Kingdom to create new opportunities for trade and economic development as we transition to a clean energy economy,” said Governor Roy Cooper in a statement released earlier today. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to tackling climate change, deploying clean energy technologies, creating jobs and promoting environmental justice.”

The two entities both aim to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, according to Governor Cooper’s statement, and the agreement will be one of information sharing and partnership facilitation.

“The MOU will build on the strong existing relationship between North Carolina and the UK,” Steve Cain, the president of the Triangle Chapter of the British-American Business Council of North Carolina, told WRAL News’ Debra Morgan earlier this month.  “It will provide a framework to help remove barriers to trade and investment and to increase opportunities for NC and UK businesses to grow and increase jobs.

The MoU is the second-such agreement between the United Kingdom and a U.S. state. the UK inked a deal with Indiana in May.

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Priority sectors

“The MOU will focus on a range of priority sectors where NC and the UK already collaborate and also where there is opportunity to do more,” Cain told Morgan.

And the statement from the United Kingdom confirms that approach, noting that “the partnership will seek to accelerate growth in green trade, particularly in electric vehicles and offshore wind.”

According to the statement, North Carolina buys approximately $1.6 billion of goods from the United Kingdom, the 12th largest export market.

And multiple British firms have selected the state as the geographic location for North American headquarters facilities, including INEOS Automotive which chose Raleigh, MedPharm which chose Research Triangle Park for a facility, and Arrival, which chose Charlotte.  (Editor’s Note: Arrival indicated that it could cut as much as 30% of its workforce recently, though the company did not confirm to WRAL TechWire whether or how North Carolina-based employees might be affected.)

“North Carolina is home to some of the US’ most exciting companies – from Honeywell to Labcorp – and was recently named America’s top state for business,” said Penny Mordaunt, the Minister of State for International Trade, in the statement.

Trade in the U.S. is among the priorities for Mordaunt, who described the UK’s approach as “twin-track” in the statement, and future trade agreements are expected in South Carolina and Oklahoma.

Earlier this year, American Airlines resumed non-stop flight service between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and London’s Heathrow Airport.

North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Machelle Baker Sanders is in London, and attended a signing ceremony for the agreement, as well as represented the state of North Carolina at the Farnborough International Airshow while also conducting economic development meetings, Governor Cooper’s statement noted.