The secretary of state for international trade, also referred to as the international trade secretary, is a
secretary of state in the
Government of the United Kingdom
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, with overall responsibility for the business of the
Department for International Trade and
UK Export Finance. The incumbent is a member of the
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the senior decision-making body of His Majesty's Government. A committee of the Privy Council, it is chaired by the prime minister and its members include secretaries of state and other senior ministers.
...
. Since the office's inception, the incumbent has concurrently been appointed
President of the Board of Trade
The president of the Board of Trade is head of the Board of Trade. This is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, first established as a temporary committee of inquiry in the 17th century, that evolved gradually into a government ...
.
The office holder works alongside the other
International Trade ministers. The corresponding
shadow minister is the
shadow secretary of state for international trade
In British politics, the Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade is a position within the opposition's shadow cabinet that deals with issues surrounding UK trade negotiations. If elected, the person designated as Shadow Secretary of St ...
. The secretary of state is also scrutinised by the
International Trade Select Committee.
The incumbent is
Kemi Badenoch
Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch ( ; née Adegoke, 2 January 1980) is a British politician serving as Secretary of State for International Trade, President of the Board of Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities since 2022. She previously served i ...
, following her appointment by Prime Minister
Liz Truss
Mary Elizabeth Truss (born 26 July 1975) is a British politician who briefly served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from September to October 2022. On her fiftieth day in office, she stepped dow ...
in September 2022.
Responsibilities
Corresponding to what is generally known as a
commerce minister
A Commerce minister (sometimes business minister, industry minister, trade minister or international trade minister) is a position in many governments that is responsible for regulating external trade and promoting economic growth (commercial polic ...
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
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories because there is a need or want of goods or services. (see: World economy)
In most countries, such trade represents a significa ...
History
The office was created by Prime Minister
Theresa May
Theresa Mary May, Lady May (; née Brasier; born 1 October 1956) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2016 to 2019. She previously served in David Cameron's cab ...
shortly after she took office on 13 July 2016, following the
2016 EU referendum
The United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, commonly referred to as the EU referendum or the Brexit referendum, took place on 23 June 2016 in the United Kingdom (UK) and Gibraltar to ask the electorate whether the country shoul ...
. The office's powers were taken from the trade functions of the
secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, which was recreated as the secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy 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.
List of secretaries of state
Colour key (for political parties):
See also
*
Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade
In British politics, the Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade is a position within the opposition's shadow cabinet that deals with issues surrounding UK trade negotiations. If elected, the person designated as Shadow Secretary of St ...
*
First Lord of Trade
The president of the Board of Trade is head of the Board of Trade. This is a committee of the His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Privy Council of the United Kingdom, first established as a temporary committee of inquiry in the 17th centu ...
*
*
Secretary for Overseas Trade
*
Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (position established concurrently)
References
External links
Department for International Trade Official Website
Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom
Trade ministers of the United Kingdom
2016 establishments in the United Kingdom
Trade in the United Kingdom
Department for International Trade
Ministries established in 2016
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