Department for International Trade
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| Department for International Trade | |
|---|---|
| Name | Department for International Trade |
| Formed | 2016 |
| Preceding1 | Department for Business, Innovation and Skills |
| Headquarters | Westminster |
| Jurisdiction | United Kingdom |
| Minister1 name | Secretary of State for International Trade |
| Parent agency | HM Government |
Department for International Trade was a United Kingdom ministerial department established in 2016 to promote international trade, attract foreign direct investment and negotiate trade agreements. It operated alongside ministries such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, HM Treasury, Ministry of Defence, and engaged with bodies including the World Trade Organization, European Commission, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The department coordinated activity with devolved administrations such as the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and Northern Ireland Executive, and interfaced with institutions like the Bank of England, Export Credits Guarantee Department, British Chambers of Commerce, and the Confederation of British Industry.
History
The department was created following the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum and the formation of the Second Cameron ministry and later the May ministry, reflecting priorities set by leaders including Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and cabinet ministers who reshaped institutions after the 2015 United Kingdom general election. Its roots trace to predecessors such as the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and entities from the Industrial Strategy era, reacting to shifts implied by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and negotiating transitions under the Article 50 TEU process. Throughout its existence it worked within frameworks set by treaties like the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom and engaged with trade missions to partner states such as the United States, China, India, Japan, and members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Responsibilities and Functions
The department was responsible for negotiating bilateral and multilateral trade agreements involving parties such as the United States Trade Representative, European Free Trade Association, Mercosur, and consultative partners including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, and International Chamber of Commerce. It provided export promotion services through organisations like UK Export Finance and liaised with standards bodies including the British Standards Institution and regulatory authorities such as the Competition and Markets Authority. The department supported trade policy alignment with jurisdictions represented by delegations from Australia, Canada, South Korea, Norway, and worked on market access issues involving commodities referenced by the WTO Agreement on Agriculture, WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade legacy arrangements.
Organisation and Leadership
Leadership roles included the Secretary of State for International Trade and the Chief Executive, who coordinated with Permanent Secretaries in departments like the Foreign Office and ministries such as the Department for Business and Trade successor structures. The department operated divisions covering trade negotiations, export support, investment promotion and legal services, and interface units with institutions like the British Council, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department of Health and Social Care, and the Ministry of Justice on regulatory alignment. Senior figures often appeared before bodies such as the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Trade and Industry Select Committee, and international forums including the G7 and G20.
Trade Policy and Agreements
The department led negotiations on Free Trade Agreements and continuity agreements with partners including the United States–United Kingdom Trade Negotiations, United Kingdom–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and discussions with the European Union under frameworks derived from the Treaty of Lisbon and post-Brexit arrangements. It engaged in regulatory dialogue on standards influenced by the World Health Organization, International Organization for Standardization, and International Labour Organization and managed tariff schedules consistent with the World Trade Organization commitments. Policy instruments included trade remedies under frameworks related to the Safeguards Agreement, investment provisions reminiscent of Investor–State dispute settlement debates, and provisions addressing intellectual property rights under models from the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
International Investment and Export Promotion
The department ran export promotion and inward investment campaigns targeting multinationals such as those in sectors represented by Rolls-Royce Holdings, BP, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, and financial institutions in the City of London. It collaborated with promotional agencies including the British Business Bank, local enterprise partnerships inspired by models like the Greater London Authority and networks of Chambers of Commerce to attract projects from investors headquartered in United States, Germany, Japan, United Arab Emirates, and sovereign wealth funds such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. Export credit, insurance and finance mechanisms were coordinated with institutions like the Export–Import Bank of the United States analogues and multilateral development banks including the European Investment Bank.
Criticisms and Controversies
The department faced scrutiny over transparency in negotiations highlighted by critics from organisations such as Transparency International, challenges raised in select committee inquiries led by members of Parliament of the United Kingdom, and legal scrutiny invoking principles from the European Convention on Human Rights in some disputes. Controversies included debates over trade-offs between regulatory autonomy and access sought by firms like Glencore and HSBC, concerns voiced by unions such as the Trades Union Congress, and disputes involving farmer groups represented by organisations like the National Farmers' Union over agricultural standards. Allegations about ministerial conduct, procurement choices and the handling of trade remedies prompted parliamentary debates similar to those during earlier inquiries into departments like the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.