Florida, UK Look to Expand Trade Ties

Florida and the United Kingdom moved closer to a trade pact that could help businesses involved in areas such as space, financial technology, artificial intelligence and legal services. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch during an appearance in Jacksonville. “It will deepen economic cooperation and trade relations. It’ll help us identify barriers to trade and overcome them together,” Badenoch said. “But it will also foster business links and help unlock new investment opportunities for companies on both sides of the Atlantic.” The pact will have a focus on space research, aerospace manufacturing, medical technology, financial technology, reinsurance, supply chains, transportation infrastructure and emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors, DeSantis said. Florida is the seventh state to sign such a memorandum with Britain, joining Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah and Washington.