Department of Trade and Industry: Export Promotion Directorate: The Americas (XP5)...

This series contains records of The Americas branch of the Export Promotion Directorate, as well as of its successor International Group 4 (IG4), which was part of British Trade International. The files primarily relate to trade and investment with Argentina in the 1990s. Trade agreements aimed to generate overseas opportunities for UK business and to rebuild trade relations with Argentina following the Falkland Islands crisis.

In former reference order

Department for Business and Trade

The Export Promotion Directorate: The Americas (XP5) of the Department of Trade and Industry was responsible for export promotion, export policy management and general trade enquiries concerning trade in the Americas. It was also responsible for UK relations with Mercosur and trade promotion campaigns such as North America Now and The Export Initiative. Each of the four branches covered different geographical regions. Branch A/B covered the USA, Canada and Bermuda. Branch C covered exports to Mexico, Central America, Venezuela and the Caribbean. Branch D covered exports to South American countries not managed by other branches.

XP5 transferred from the Department of Trade and Industry to British Trade International on its creation in 1999. The directorate continued to be responsible for export promotion, export policy management and general trade enquiries concerning trade in the Americas. It also remained responsible for UK relations with Mercosur and trade promotion campaigns. Each of the four branches continued to cover different geographical regions. Branch A/B covered the USA, Canada and Bermuda. Branch C covered exports to Mexico, Central America, Venezuela and the Caribbean. Branch D covered exports to Mercosur and South American countries not managed by other branches.

In 2000, XP5 was replaced by British Trade International's International Group 4: The Americas (IG4). IG4 was responsible for trade development and promotion work in the Americas. The pre-existing four branches were consolidated into three units: IG4A (North America Unit); IG4B (Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Unit); and IG4C (South America Unit).