Pritzker signs Illinois trade agreement with the United Kingdom

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a trade agreement with the United Kingdom, in addition to an agreement with the State of Mexico signed last week, in an effort to strengthen economic ties with global trading partners.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Pritzker and British officials in the Illinois Capitol on Tuesday.

The agreement comes amid tensions over the Trump administration’s tariffs on on foreign imports from almost all of the countries the U.S. trades with.

President Trump has argued that the U.S. has been hurt by foreign trade deals that he calls unfair and says his new tariffs will fix the trade deficits.

A 10% baseline tariff is already being imposed on all foreign imports, but steeper reciprocal tariffs are set to go into effect on dozens of countries starting on Wednesday.

“Now more than ever, it’s essential that states like in Illinois build and maintain healthy relationships with major trade partners—and for years, the United Kingdom has met Illinois with equal enthusiasm and desire for increased cooperation and partnership,” said Pritzker. “Signing this MOU is the next step in growing our strong trade relationship that will benefit both Illinois and the UK, and I look forward to seeing how this agreement will spur additional opportunities across sectors.”

According to the Governor’s Office, Illinois exported over $2.6 billion in goods, such as chemicals, computer products, and fabricated metal products, to the United Kingdom in 2024, making it the state’s 8th-largest export partner.

The Memorandum of Understanding focuses heavily on “climate-conscious solutions in manufacturing and engineering,” a press release said. It also highlighted shared values between Illinois and UK leadership, including bolstering equitable economic opportunities for minorities, women, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Last week, Pritzker signed a similar agreement with the State of Mexico, one of 32 states that make up the country of Mexico, to promote strategic alliances between government authorities, universities, and research centers and highlight trade and investment, manufacturing and agriculture, supply chains, and more.