Trade deal between US and UK 'inevitable' says former 3M boss Sir George Buckley

In an interview with The Yorkshire Post, Sir George Buckley, the former chairman and chief executive of 3M, says factors such as a close relationship on intelligence mean that a trade deal will be struck between the two countries. The two countries also have a common set of values.

He said: “If you look at it through the United States’ eyes and you think about who the United States could rely on if it ever got into trouble, it would be Britain and Canada.

“There’s a strong bond. They have the closest relationships on intelligence. I think a trade deal between the United States and Britain is inevitable but I can’t forecast the time because we’ve got a new administration, they have their own set of priorities.”

Sir George also says that Yorkshire has a high profile across the Atlantic and is viewed as “England’s Texas”.

“Independent, big, strong-willed - that’s how people think about it,” said the Yorkshireman. A lot of people know of the region through popular TV shows such as All Creatures Great and Small which has recently been aired in the US.

The chairman of Stanley Black & Decker and engineering company Smiths plc was born in Sheffield. He moved to the US in 1978 to go work for General Motors.

When comparing the difference in work culture between the UK and the US, Sir George wishes more emphasis was placed on innovation in Britain.

He said: “The culture in the United States believes a lot in innovation, it believes a lot in creativity and you see that obviously in many of the great innovative companies that are American.

“There are some British companies, some Japanese, some German companies that are hugely creative too.

“I wish in Britain we emphasised innovation more.”

Sir George is on the board of Hitachi in Japan and has just retired from the board of directors of Pepsico.

He also owns “significant parts of” three start up companies.

Last year, he was appointed chancellor of University of Huddersfield, where he was once a student.

Sir George joined 3M in 2005 and was chairman and chief executive of the firm behind Post-It notes until 2012 when he reached retirement age.

He said: “It was utterly marvellous. I loved the company. I love its people and I love the drive for innovation.”

Applying diffusion theory used in engineering to the coronavirus pandemic, Sir George believes that the UK is likely looking at late summer before being relatively clear of Covid-19.

“There will be some level [of infections] percolating along,” he said, “but we’re probably looking at late summer before we see the end of this.”

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James Mitchinson