Secretary of State for International Trade

Secretary of State
for International Trade
Secretary of State; for International Trade
	Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
	Department for International Trade
Style	International Trade Secretary; (informal); The Right Honourable; (UK and the Commonwealth)
Status	Secretary of state; Minister of the Crown
Member of	Cabinet; Privy Council; Board of Trade
Reports to	The Prime Minister
Seat	Westminster
Appointer	The Crown; on advice of the Prime Minister
Term length	At His Majesty's Pleasure
Formation	13 July 2016
First holder	Liam Fox
Abolished	7 February 2023

The secretary of state for international trade, also referred to as the international trade secretary, was a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the business of the Department for International Trade and UK Export Finance.[1] The incumbent was a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. Since the office's inception, the incumbent was concurrently been appointed President of the Board of Trade.

The office holder worked alongside the other International Trade ministers. The corresponding shadow minister is the shadow secretary of state for international trade. The secretary of state is also scrutinised by the International Trade Select Committee.[2]

The final officeholder was Kemi Badenoch, following her appointment by Prime Minister Liz Truss in September 2022; she was subsequently reappointed by Rishi Sunak in October 2022.[3] In February 2023, the position was abolished, with its duties merging with those of the Business Secretary to become Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Responsibilities

Corresponding to what is generally known as a commerce minister in many other countries, the international trade secretary's remit includes:

Forming new free trade agreements for the United Kingdom
Managing the development of freeports across Britain
Maintaining current trade agreements with other countries
Supporting British businesses with international trade[4]

History

The office was created by Prime Minister Theresa May shortly after she took office on 13 July 2016, following the 2016 EU referendum. The office's powers were taken from the trade functions of the secretary of state for business, innovation and skills,[5] which was recreated as the secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy[6] as part of a wider government reorganisation.

While the office of Secretary of State for International Trade provided trade services in the post-EU-referendum period, other departments and offices continued to play a role, e.g. DEFRA provided services to the EU and beyond.[7]

List of secretaries of state

Colour key (for political parties):
Conservative

Secretary of State for International Trade
	Term of office		Party	Ministry
Liam Fox[8] MP for North Somerset	13 July 2016	24 July 2019	Conservative	May I
Liam Fox[8] MP for North Somerset	13 July 2016	24 July 2019	Conservative	May II
Liz Truss[9] MP for South West Norfolk	24 July 2019	15 September 2021	Conservative	Johnson I
Liz Truss[9] MP for South West Norfolk	24 July 2019	15 September 2021	Conservative	Johnson II
Anne-Marie Trevelyan[10] MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed	15 September 2021	6 September 2022	Conservative	Johnson II
Kemi Badenoch[10] MP for Saffron Walden	6 September 2022	7 February 2023	Conservative	Truss
Kemi Badenoch[10] MP for Saffron Walden	6 September 2022	7 February 2023	Conservative	Sunak

References

"Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade". gov.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
"Committee to question Liz Truss on work of her Department". parliament.uk. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2021. The International Trade Committee will meet on Wednesday 4 November, to take virtual evidence from the Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade, Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP.
"UK Prime Minister twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
"Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade". gov.uk.
The Secretaries of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for International Trade and for Exiting the European Union and the Transfer of Functions (Education and Skills) Order 2016 Article 9(1).
The Secretaries of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for International Trade and for Exiting the European Union and the Transfer of Functions (Education and Skills) Order 2016 Article 3.
Eustice, George. "Australia and New Zealand Trade Deals". Hansard. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
"Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
"Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
"Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 September 2021.

External links

Department for International Trade Official Website

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade". gov.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2021.

[2] "Committee to question Liz Truss on work of her Department". parliament.uk. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2021. The International Trade Committee will meet on Wednesday 4 November, to take virtual evidence from the Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade, Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP.

[3] "UK Prime Minister twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 6 September 2022.

[4] "Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade". gov.uk.

[5] The Secretaries of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for International Trade and for Exiting the European Union and the Transfer of Functions (Education and Skills) Order 2016 Article 9(1).

[6] The Secretaries of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for International Trade and for Exiting the European Union and the Transfer of Functions (Education and Skills) Order 2016 Article 3.

[7] Eustice, George. "Australia and New Zealand Trade Deals". Hansard. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.

[8] "Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 September 2021.

[9] "Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 September 2021.

[:0-10] "Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 September 2021.

UK cabinet portfolios
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
Cabinet ministers	Prime Minister / First Lord of the Treasury / Minister for the Union / Minister for the Civil Service Deputy Prime Minister / Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster / Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office. Chancellor of the Exchequer Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary Home Secretary Defence Secretary Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Justice Secretary / Lord Chancellor Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary / Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Health and Social Care Secretary Lord President of the Council / Leader of the House of Commons Leader of the House of Lords / Lord Privy Seal Business and Trade Secretary / President of the Board of Trade / Minister for Women and Equalities Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Work and Pensions Secretary Education Secretary Transport Secretary Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Minister without portfolio Northern Ireland Secretary Scottish Secretary Welsh Secretary
Also attending Cabinet	Chief Whip / Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Chief Secretary to the Treasury Attorney General for England and Wales / Advocate General for Northern Ireland Minister for the Cabinet Office / Paymaster General Minister of State for Immigration Minister of State for Security Minister of State for Development and Africa Minister of State for the Armed Forces and Veterans