Punk rock and “new wave” (the latter of which the Brits call “new romantic” music) actually started in the USA. All the Brits did was inflate the same music with their accents and bands and send it back overseas. They actually got associated thanks to CBGB, who hosted both kinds of acts (e.g. Ramones, Talking Heads).
True. The Brits got more airplay on Top 40 radio, too.