Department for International Trade

Department for International Trade
Department overview
Formed 14 July 2016
Preceding department
Jurisdiction United Kingdom
Headquarters 3 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A
Minister responsible
Child agencies
Website Official website

The Department for International Trade (DIT[1]) is a United Kingdom government department responsible for striking and extending trade agreements between the United Kingdom and non EU states (however the UK Government is not legally permitted to negotiate any trade deals with third party countries before it has exited the EU).[2] The department was created by Prime Minister Theresa May, shortly after she took office on 13 July 2016, following the United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union.[3]

DIT's purpose is to develop, coordinate and deliver a new trade policy for the United Kingdom, including preparing for and then negotiating free trade agreements and market access deals with non-EU countries. The new department is a specialised body with significant new trade negotiating capacity.

It took on the responsibilities of UK Trade and Investment, which was previously operated by both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, it also took on the latter's other relevant trade functions; as well as responsibility for UK Export Finance.[4] It is overseen by the Secretary of State for International Trade, currently Liam Fox.[2] As of February 2017, the department employs about 200 trade negotiators.[5]

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Ministers

The Ministers in the Department for International Trade are as follows:[6]

Minister Rank Portfolio
The Rt Hon. Liam Fox MP Secretary of State Overall responsibility for all policies and sectors, both directly and through his ministers of state. He will personally lead on the defence and security sector and will be involved in the most significant global deals across all sectors.
The Rt Hon. Greg Hands MP Minister of State for Trade and Investment Responsibility for lead on high value export and investment campaigns in these sectors: technology and smart cities, infrastructure, energy, healthcare and life sciences, cross-Whitehall alignment; the business forecasting function; UKEF; and policy direction on topics such as mergers and acquisitions and overseas direct investment.
The Lord Price CVO Minister of State for Trade Policy Leading the Trade Policy Unit, which has a wide range of critical Trade Policy functions, including strategy and communications, organisation, operations, free trade agreements and the UK’s dealings with the World Trade Organisation.
Mark Garnier MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Lead on high value export and investment campaigns in these sectors: financial services, advanced manufacturing and aerospace, automotive, bio-economy, consumer, creative and education. He will also be leading on work with the Export Control Organisation, the high volume export campaign, UK regional delivery and overseas partner delivery.

References

  1. ↑ "Department for International Trade". GOV.UK. GOV.UK. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  2. 1 2 "About - Department for International Trade - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. UK Government. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  3. ↑ "Theresa May signals Whitehall rejig with two new Cabinet posts | Civil Service World". www.civilserviceworld.com. CSW. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "Machinery of Government Changes:Written statement - HCWS94". Hansard. Hansard. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  5. ↑ Trading places / Negotiating post-Brexit deals. Economist, February 4th-10th 2017, page 25
  6. ↑ "Full list of new ministerial and government appointments: July 2016". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.


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