As the UK grapples over competing visions for its post-Brexit future, discussions about international trade now dominate public debate. This, coupled with publicised concerns over high profile sectors such as car manufacturing, has meant policy-makers are under pressure to deliver a Brexit deal that protects particular export industries such as automobiles, financial services, and pharmaceuticals.

As the Centre for Cities' latest report, examining the export bases of Britain's biggest cities shows, an industry-by-industry approach to trade is unlikely to work for cities, which collectively account for 64% of Britain's exports.