Secretary of State for International Trade

Last updated

Secretary of State
for International Trade
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg
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
Formation13 July 2016
First holder Liam 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. During the office's lifetime, the incumbent was concurrently appointed President of the Board of Trade.

The office holder worked alongside the other International Trade ministers. The corresponding shadow minister was the shadow secretary of state for international trade. The secretary of state was 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 included:

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
Secretary of StateTerm of officePartyMinistry
Official portrait of Dr Liam Fox crop 2.jpg Liam Fox [8]
MP for North Somerset
13 July 2016 24 July 2019 Conservative May I
May II
Official portrait of Elizabeth Truss crop 2.jpg Liz Truss [9]
MP for South West Norfolk
24 July 2019 15 September 2021 Conservative Johnson I
Johnson II
Official portrait of Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan crop 2.jpg Anne-Marie Trevelyan [10]
MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed
15 September 2021 6 September 2022 Conservative
Kemi Badenoch official Cabinet Portrait; 2022 (cropped).jpg Kemi Badenoch [10]
MP for Saffron Walden
6 September 2022 7 February 2023 Conservative Truss
Sunak

See also

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References

  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. 1 2 "Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 September 2021.