The diplomatic foreign relations of the United Kingdom are conducted by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, headed by the Foreign Secretary. The prime minister and numerous other agencies play a role in setting policy, and many institutions and businesses have a voice and a role.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom. Equivalent to other countries' ministries of foreign affairs, it was created on 2 September 2020 through the merger of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID). The FCO was itself created in 1968 by the merger of the Foreign Office (FO) and the Commonwealth Office. The department in its various forms is responsible for representing and promoting British interests worldwide.
The Department for International Development (DFID) was a department of HM Government responsible for administering foreign aid from 1997 to 2020. The goal of the department was "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty". DFID was headed by the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for International Development. The position was last held between 13 February 2020 and the department's abolishment on 2 September 2020 by Anne-Marie Trevelyan. In a 2010 report by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), DFID was described as "an international development leader in times of global crisis". The UK aid logo is often used to publicly acknowledge DFID's development programmes are funded by UK taxpayers.
Global Affairs Canada is the department of the Government of Canada that manages Canada's diplomatic and consular relations, promotes Canadian international trade, and leads Canada's international development and humanitarian assistance. It is also responsible for maintaining Canadian government offices abroad with diplomatic and consular status on behalf of all government departments.
UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the operating name of the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) which is the United Kingdom's export credit agency and a ministerial department of His Majesty's Government. It has been awarded the best global export credit agency in 2019. In 1920, UKEF had a maximum total exposure of just £26 million. Today, its maximum commitment stands at £50 billion. Recently, the ECGD celebrated its 100th anniversary as the longest running export credit agency in the world.
The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is a UK-based campaigning organisation working towards the abolition of the international arms trade. It was founded in 1974 by a coalition of peace groups. It has been involved in several high-profile campaigns, including a legal challenge against the Serious Fraud Office's decision to suspend a corruption investigation into BAE Systems in 2007. On 27 September 2012, it was honoured with a Right Livelihood Award for its "innovative and effective campaigning".
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission, or Austrade, is the Australian Government's trade, investment and education promotion agency which was also given responsibility for tourism policy, programs and research from 2013. Austrade was established under the Australian Trade Commission Act 1985. It is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, and a statutory agency under the Public Service Act 1999. Austrade is part of the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio.
UK Defence and Security Exports (UKDSE), formerly known as Defence & Security Organisation (DSO) and the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO), is an organisation within the Department for International Trade responsible for helping British arms companies export.
In June 1989, as Poland turned away from communism, a group of British-Polish students and graduates, Polish expats and British businessmen, established ‘Interes’, an organisation promoting business, trade and investment between Britain and Poland.
British–Iraqi relations are foreign relations between Iraq and the United Kingdom.
Jonathan Peter Marland, Baron Marland is a British businessman and politician, having served as Prime Minister's Trade Envoy, Minister for Energy and Climate Change and Business, Innovation and Skills, and Treasurer of the Conservative Party.
Strong foreign relations exist between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom. The Embassy of United Kingdom in Baku opened in 1992. The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in London opened in 1994. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The historical ties between the governments of Barbados and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) are long and complex, including settlement, post-colonialism and modern bilateral relations. The two countries are related through common history spanning 339 years (1627–1966). Since the Barbadian date of political independence, these nations continue to share ties through the Commonwealth of Nations. Until becoming a Commonwealth republic in 2021, Barbados also shared the same Head of State, with Queen Elizabeth II as their Monarch.
Foreign trade of the United States comprises the international imports and exports of the United States. The country is among the top three global importers and exporters.
Singapore–United Kingdom relations, also referred to as British–Singaporean relations, are the relations between the states of Singapore and the United Kingdom. Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations and are marked by historical, cultural, institutional and language ties, extensive people-to-people links, aligned security interests, sporting tournaments, and significant trade and investment co-operation.
The Commercial Horticultural Association (CHA) is the UK Trade Association representing and supporting companies that manufacture and supply plants, products and services to commercial horticultural growers throughout the world.
Fiona Jane François is the chairman and former President of the British American Business Council, Los Angeles Chapter. She was formerly HM Consul and Director for the Western Region of UK Trade & Investment's US Network.
Hong Kong–United Kingdom relations are the international relations between the post-colonial Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Hong Kong was a British colony from 1841 to 1941 and again from 1945 to 1997 when sovereignty was handed over to China. UK policy towards Hong Kong is underpinned by its substantial commercial interests, and fulfilling obligation as the other signatory of Sino–British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong, in addition to support Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, and in accordance with China's policy of observing "one country, two systems". Hong Kong is also home to roughly 2.9 million British nationals, 350,000 of which hold an active British passport, giving it one of the largest populations of British passport holders in the world behind only the Anglosphere Commonwealth realms and the United States.
The Trade Delegation (Representation) of the Russian Federation in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a state institution ensuring foreign economic interests of the Russian Federation in the United Kingdom. It is an integral part of the Diplomatic Mission of the Russian Federation in the UK. The Delegation acts under political guidance of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the United Kingdom. General governance of its activities is carried out by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. The Trade Delegation was established on 24 February 1920. It was the first Russian trade representation abroad and it began the history of trade representations of Russia in foreign countries. By now the word “Delegation” still appears in the official English name for the Russian Trade Representative's Office to the UK. The Trade Delegation is headed by the Trade Representative who is appointed by the Government of the Russian Federation upon recommendation by the Ministry of Economic Development agreed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
The UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) is a non-profit organisation founded in 2011. It was originally created by the UK government in order to facilitate trade and business relations between the United Kingdom and ASEAN.
