Secretary of State for International Trade

Secretary of State
for International Trade
Department for International Trade
StyleInternational Trade Secretary
(informal)
The Right Honourable
(UK and the Commonwealth)
StatusSecretary of state
Minister of the Crown
Member ofCabinet
Privy Council
Board of Trade
Reports toThe Prime Minister
SeatWestminster
AppointerThe Crown
on advice of the Prime Minister
Term lengthAt His Majesty's Pleasure
Formation13 July 2016
First holderLiam Fox
Abolished7 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 has 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

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

History

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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

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Colour key (for political parties):
  Conservative

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

See also

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References

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  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.
  10. ^ a b "Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
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