An American engineer with 15 years' experience in the US market told Oxfordshire exporters: "Think big but deal local".

Dr Marvin Barker, president of High Technology Associates, was speaking at a Business Link Heart of England workshop on overcoming transatlantic barriers.

He told export managers from Oxfordshire companies: "You can hit trouble if you underestimate the sheer size of the US. This is a common mistake. To get your product and distribution system set up properly you should think of the States as being in 14 different areas.

"The overall message is to think big but deal local. Some companies appoint one agent to deal with the whole country, but American businesses like to deal with someone who knows their area and can talk to them face to face."