BritishAmerican Business Inc of New York and London (BABi) is the leading transatlantic business organisation, with more than 800 member companies in the US and UK.

This places us squarely at the heart of the UK/US business relationship – the largest business relationship between any two countries in the world. BABi’s reach is much wider than just New York and London, though. Through our membership in the British- American Business Council (BABC) and the European Council of American Chambers of Commerce (ECACC), we have a business network that extends to more than 60 cities right across North America and Europe.

More than one million people in the US are employed by UK-headquartered companies and vice-versa, which should come as no surprise when you learn that annual two-way investment between the US and the UK totals more than $535bn, with a further $77bn in annual two-way trade. Trade and investment figures between the US and the UK have come up against various obstacles in recent years, but UK exports of goods to the US last year (2003) still rose by 1.5%, to just under £29bn.

There are many reasons for the massive reciprocal level of trade and investment between our two countries; common history, language and culture, flexible and open markets and shared business values, as well as accessibility, all play important roles in this relationship. The legal, social and tax frameworks supporting business are also crucial.

Transatlantic business thrives because our two countries are involved with each other in so many ways and at so many levels. The integration that exists between the US and the UK has created thousands of opportunities, many common causes, and an open relationship that enables us to deal effectively with potentially divisive issues when they arise. In unsettled times, the stability of this relationship is a source of reassurance and, at the present time, all aspects of this relationship have, arguably, never been stronger.

BABi provides practical help and benefits to American and British companies of all sizes as they look to grow their transatlantic business, by offering a broad range of business development, business intelligence and networking services and opportunities. Our membership ranges from the largest multinationals to middle-market and smaller operations.

This “US Handbook” is in its first year, but is set to become an ongoing, annual initiative to expand BABi’s service offering, primarily by giving useful and practical advice to British companies looking to invest, expand, form partnerships or set up regional headquarters in the US. The publication is based on BritishAmerican Business, the UK-focused handbook, now in its fifth year of production. The UK Handbook has proved extremely popular with US companies, particularly those in the small to mediumsized enterprise (SME) sector, looking to set up in the UK.

You will find here, as well as welcome words from Don Evans, the US Government’s Secretary of Commerce and Sir David Manning, HM Ambassador to the US, that we have also included guidance from Sir Stephen Brown, Chief Executive of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). UKTI is the new single identity for the UK Government’s business support organisation, British Trade International, and its operating arms, Trade Partners UK and Invest.UK, which helps UK companies build their international business.

In this Handbook, we have also included overview information on general, countrywide issues, from relocation and legal information relating to setting up a company in the US, to financial services and information on corporate social responsibility/corporate governance. The bulk of this publication, however, is turned over to the individual US states, with contributions from Economic Development Authorities (EDAs) and region-specific information covering issues from employment and employee benefits, taxation and legal issues, to travel and relocation. With a heavy emphasis on the practical, we have focused on overviews, case studies, expert advice and contact information.

Taking its lead from the UK Handbook, there is a section comprising information and contributions from the various networks with offices in the UK that can help businesses attempting to set up in the US before they even cross the Atlantic. You will find information from the British-American Business Council (BABC) – of which BABi is a member, through our offices in New York and London – as well as the US Embassy’s Commercial Service and AURA, the Association of United States Representatives Abroad, which is an informal association of US state and county representatives in the UK. We have also included a map of the UK in this section to show you the locations of offices for the BABC chapters.

The publication rounds up with a reference section, included so that businesses attempting to set up in the US have information at their fingertips on many of the most prominent bodies, agencies and individual companies that will be able to help them through issues they will face as they develop their business. There is also a “Useful Websites” page for anyone doing their research over the Internet.

BABi is dedicated to helping its member companies build and expand their international business. In effect, we create networks between countries as well as companies and we help companies of all sizes to do business with each other. If you are looking to build your business in the US, we hope this handbook will be a useful starting point. Our friendly and knowledgeable teams in New York and London are always happy to help, so do give them a call to see how BABi can help you. We look forward to welcoming you to our growing transatlantic fellowship of business.