NORTH-East firms doing business with the US are reviewing arrangements in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on America.

A number had been planning meetings with their counterparts across the Atlantic in the next few weeks, but have had to cancel as travel is hit.

But John Williams, international trade director for Trade Partners UK, of Newcastle, said: "The meetings are only being postponed rather than cancelled. The US companies involved still want to do business with the UK, they are just, understandably, preoccupied at the moment."

Trade Partners UK is the former British Trade International and provides export support services and a network of resources to help build British business success overseas.

Mr Williams added: "US companies won't be in a position to decide on their future links with Britain and the North-East until their Government has decided on the appropriate response to the attack, which is not likely to be for at least another week.

"The regular programme of trade missions will obviously be affected, but we are still waiting to see what the practical difficulties will be."

Mr Williams believes the tourism industry in the North-East will be one of the worst hit by Americans deciding not to travel.

He said: "Areas like Durham and Northumberland have just been recovering from the foot-and-mouth outbreak, which has already put off American tourists. Now it will be hit again by many visitors from the US deciding not to travel."

Meanwhile, Carol Wright, secretary of the British American Chamber of Commerce, and an international trade director with the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: "We have a visit to Los Angeles planned for November, and so far we haven't cancelled it.

"It is still too early to say if that visit will go ahead, and so far no North-East firms involved in the visit have cancelled."

Meanwhile Lloyds of London came to a standstill yesterday as thousands of insurance workers paid tribute to victims of the terrorist strike with a minute's silence signalled by the ringing of the Lutine Bell.

Chairman of Lloyds, Saxon Riley, addressed about 3,000 people before the bell was rung to mark the start of the silence.

He said: "We are not here this morning to debate the losses as it affects the market but we are here to respect the people who are lost or missing in this barbaric tragedy, to pay our respects to colleagues, family and friends, who have been lost in this great tragedy."

The Lutine bell, which has been at Lloyds since 1890, was used to signal news of a vessel that had gone missing.