US-UK Trade Deal: An opportunity to strengthen the built environment

The US-UK Trade Deal marks a positive deepening of economic ties, with our built and natural environment’s future hinging on fruitful cooperation and collaboration across borders.

By reducing trade barriers and enhancing regulatory cooperation, we can strengthen longer term social and economic prosperity. This agreement will help to drive innovation and ensure businesses are not held back.

We welcome the strategic direction outlined in the US-UK Trade Dialogue, particularly on Mutual Recognition Agreements. Sharing knowledge, skills and expertise across borders benefits us all and the places we live.

RICS has long advocated for the mutual recognition of surveying qualifications and professional standards, and we hope that today’s announcement will pave the way for greater opportunities for professionals working across the built environment to upskill and work across borders, while enhancing trust and consistency for all.

We welcome the focus on internationally recognised standards. Our own standards such as ICMS (International Cost Measurement Standards), Whole Life Carbon Assessment, and the RICS Red Book are already used by members globally, and we welcome their wider adoption as benchmarks.

We are well placed to develop mutual agreements in line with Recognition of Professional Qualifications policy.

Enhancing regulatory cooperation through this trade deal could support wider uptake of professional qualifications underpinned by ethical conduct, continuous professional development, and independent oversight. This would help to boost professionalism and accountability across our sector, increase consumer protection and help to create a safer, more adaptable built environment.

RICS will continue to work globally to ensure the built environment is fit for the future, and that surveyors can thrive wherever they choose to work. This trade deal is an important moment as we look to ensure long term transatlantic cooperation for the profession.