Department for International Trade

Defunct department of the UK Government

Department for International Trade

Department overview
Formed| 14 July 2016
Preceding department|

* UK Trade & Investment; Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Dissolved| 7 February 2023
Superseding department|

* Department of Business and Trade

Jurisdiction| Government of the United Kingdom
Headquarters| Old Admiralty Building, Admiralty Place, Whitehall, LONDON, SW1A 2DY
Minister responsible|

* Secretary of State for International Trade, President of the Board of Trade

Department executive|

* Permanent Secretary
* Second Permanent Secretary and Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser

Child department|

* UK Export Finance

Website| gov.uk/dit
This article is part of a series on

Politics of the United Kingdom

Constitution

* Magna Carta
* Bill of Rights
* Treaty of Union (Acts of Union)
* Parliamentary sovereignty
* Rule of law
* Separation of powers
* Other constitutional principles

The Crown

* The Monarch (list)

King Charles III

* Heir apparent

William, Prince of Wales

* * *

* Royal family
* Succession
* Prerogative
* Counsellors of State
* Republicanism in the United Kingdom

Executive

* Privy Council

Charles III
(King-in-Council)

* * *

* HM Government

* Cabinet (list)

Starmer ministry (L)

* Prime Minister (list)

Keir Starmer (L)

* Deputy Prime Minister

Angela Rayner (L)

* * *

* Departments
* Ministers
* Agencies

Legislature

* UK Parliament

(King-in-Parliament)

* * *

* King

Charles III

* * *

* House of Lords

* Lord Speaker
The Lord McFall of Alcluith

* * *

* House of Commons

* Speaker
Sir Lindsay Hoyle

* Leader of the Opposition
Kemi Badenoch (C)

* * *

* 59th Parliament
* Opposition
* MPs
* List of MPs

Judiciary

Charles III
(King-on-the-Bench)

* * *

* Supreme Court

* President

The Lord Reed

* Deputy President

The Lord Hodge

* Justices of the Supreme Court

* * *

* United Kingdom
* England and Wales
* Scotland
* Northern Ireland

Bank of England

* Governor

Andrew Bailey

* Deputy governors

Monetary Policy Committee

* * *

* Currencies
* Banknotes
* Coins

Elections and referendums

* Censorship
* UK Parliament constituencies (2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies)
* Political parties
* Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
* Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022
* Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions
* Senedd constituencies and electoral regions

UK general elections

* * *

* 1801 co-option
* 1802
* 1806
* 1807
* 1812
* 1818
* 1820
* 1826
* 1830
* 1831
* 1832–33
* 1835
* 1837
* 1841
* 1847
* 1852
* 1857
* 1859
* 1865
* 1868
* 1874
* 1880
* 1885
* 1886
* 1892
* 1895
* 1900
* 1906
* 1910 (Jan–Feb)
* 1910 (Dec)
* 1918
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1929
* 1931
* 1935
* 1945
* 1950
* 1951
* 1955
* 1959
* 1964
* 1966
* 1970
* 1974 (Feb)
* 1974 (Oct)
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1992
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2010
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2024

Endorsements

* 2010
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2024

European Parliament elections (1979–2019)

* * *

* 1979
* 1984
* 1989
* 1994
* 1999
* 2004
* 2009
* 2014
* 2019

Scottish Parliament elections

* * *

* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2016
* 2021
* Next

Northern Ireland Assembly elections

* * *

* 1998
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2016
* 2017
* 2022
* Next

Senedd elections

* * *

* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2016
* 2021
* Next

UK referendums

* * *

* 1975
* 2011
* 2016

Devolution

* Intergovernmental relations in the United Kingdom
* Legislative consent motions
* Prime Minister and Heads of Devolved Governments Council
* Council of the Nations and Regions

* * *

England

* Governance of England
* English votes for English laws
* Greater London Authority
* 1998 referendum
* Greater London Authority Act 1999
(2007 Act)
* Mayor of London
* Sadiq Khan
* Mayoral cabinet
* London Assembly
* London Plan
* Combined authorities
* Metro mayors

* * *

Northern Ireland

* Northern Ireland Act 1998
(2006 Act)
* First Minister
* Michelle O'Neill
* deputy First Minister
* Emma Little-Pengelly
* Executive
* Assembly
* Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly
* Law of Northern Ireland

* * *

Scotland

* Scottish devolution
* 1997 referendum
* Scotland Act 1998
(2012 Act, 2016 Act)
* First Minister
* John Swinney
* Government
* Scottish Parliament
* Act of the Scottish Parliament
* Scottish statutory instrument
* Scots law

* * *

Wales

* Welsh devolution
* 1997 referendum
(2011 referendum on law-making powers)
* Government of Wales Act 1998
(2006 Act, Wales Act 2014, Wales Act 2017)
* First Minister
* Eluned Morgan
* Government
* Senedd
* Measure of the National Assembly for Wales (1999–2011)
* Act of Senedd Cymru
* Welsh law

Administration

England

* History
* Subdivisions: Regions
* Ceremonial counties (list)
* Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties
* Metropolitan county
* Non-metropolitan county
* Greater London
* Unitary authorities (list)
* Districts (list)
* Metropolitan Borough
* Non-metropolitan District
* London Borough
* Civil parishes (list)
* Historic counties

* * *

Northern Ireland

* History
* Subdivisions: Counties
* Districts

* * *

Scotland

* History
* Subdivisions: Sheriffdoms
* Council areas
* Community council areas
* Civil parishes
* Shires of Scotland

* * *

Wales

* History
* Preserved counties
* Principal areas
* Communities (list)
* Historic counties

Crown Dependencies

* Bailiwick of Guernsey

* Guernsey
* Alderney
* Sark

* * *

* Bailiwick of Jersey

* * *

* Isle of Man

* * *

* British Islands
* Common Travel Area
* UK-CD Customs Union

Overseas Territories

* Akrotiri and Dhekelia
* Anguilla
* Bermuda
* British Antarctic Territory
* British Indian Ocean Territory
* British Virgin Islands
* Cayman Islands
* Falkland Islands
* Gibraltar
* Montserrat
* Pitcairn Islands
* Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
* Saint Helena
* Ascension Island
* Tristan da Cunha
* South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
* Turks and Caicos Islands

* * *

* British Overseas Territories citizen
* Visa requirements
* Visa policies

* * *

* British Overseas Territories Act 2002
* UK-OT JMC
* Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute
* Gibraltar sovereignty dispute
* Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute

Foreign relations

* Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
* Foreign policy (history)

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in the United Kingdom

* * *

* UK passport
* British National (Overseas) passport
* Visa requirements
* UK–CD Customs Union
* Visa policy
* Free trade agreements

* * *

* Australia
* Barbados
* Belgium
* Belize
* Brunei
* Canada
* China
* Hong Kong
* Cyprus
* Denmark
* France
* Germany
* India
* Israel
* Italy
* Japan
* Kenya
* Malaysia
* Malta
* Netherlands
* New Zealand
* Norway
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Spain
* South Africa
* Palestine
* Pakistan
* Poland
* Portugal
* United States
* Zimbabwe

* * *

* Ireland
* politics of Northern Ireland
* Good Friday Agreement
* UK–Ireland border
* Northern Ireland Protocol
* British–Irish Council

* * *

* European Union (history)
* Brexit
* Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union
* UK–EU withdrawal agreement

* * *

* The Commonwealth
* member states

* * *

* United Kingdom and the United Nations
* United Nations Security Council
* P5

* * *

* NATO
* G20
* G7

United Kingdom portal

* England
* Northern Ireland
* Scotland
* Wales

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

Part of a series of articles on

Brexit

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union

* * *

Glossary of terms

Background

* European Communities Act
* 1975 EC membership referendum
* UK rebate
* Bruges speech
* No. No. No.
* Maastricht Rebels
* Black Wednesday
* European Union (Amendment) Act 2008
* European Union Act 2011
* UK opt-outs from EU legislation
* Euroscepticism in the UK
* UK opinion polling on EU membership
* Campaigns for a referendum
* People's Pledge
* Labour for a Referendum
* Bloomberg speech
* In or Out
* 2013–14 EU (Referendum) Bill (unsuccessful)
* 2014 European Parliament election
* 2014 UK Parliament by-elections
* Clacton
* Heywood and Middleton
* Rochester and Strood
* 2015 UK general election
* 2015–16 EU membership renegotiation

2016 referendum

* EU Referendum Act (Gibraltar)
* EU Referendum (Date of Referendum etc.) Regulations
* EU Referendum (Conduct) Regulations
* Issues
* Endorsements
* Opinion polling
* UK Government pro-EU leaflet

* * *

Campaigns

Leave campaigns

* Vote Leave (official)
* Business for Britain
* Conservatives for Britain
* BeLeave
* Leave.EU
* Bpoplive
* The Freedom Association
* Better Off Out
* Grassroots Out
* Labour Leave
* Get Britain Out
* Bruges Group
* Campaign for an Independent Britain
* Brexit: The Movie

Remain campaigns

* Britain Stronger in Europe (official)
* Labour In for Britain
* European Movement UK
* Britain in Europe
* British Influence
* Business for New Europe
* Nucleus
* Project Fear

* * *

Outcome

* Results
* Causes for result
* International reactions
* Immediate aftermath
* 2016 Conservative Party election
* 2016 Labour Party election
* 2016 UKIP election
* Department for Exiting the EU
* Department for International Trade
* Allegations of unlawful campaigning
* Alleged Russian interference

Notice of withdrawal

* Article 50 process
* Miller case (Article 50)
* EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017
* Brexit plan
* Repeal Bill plan
* 2017 UK general election

Negotiations

* Negotiation positions
* EU negotiation mandate
* Chequers agreement
* Timeline: 2017, 2018, 2019
* 2019 European Parliament election
* 2019 UK general election

Withdrawal agreement

* Brexit divorce bill
* Fish for finance
* Irish backstop
* No-deal Brexit
* Northern Ireland Protocol
* Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
* Windsor Framework

Legislation

* Withdrawal Act 2018 (Gibraltar)
* Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018
* Cooper–Letwin Act
* Benn Act
* 2019 suspension of rebel Conservative MPs
* Public Vote Bill (not passed)
* Terms of Withdrawal Bills (not passed)
* Scottish EU Continuity Bill (blocked)
* Withdrawal Agreement Act (Gibraltar)
* Scottish EU Continuity Act
* Internal Market Act
* EU (Future Relationship) Act
* Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act

Impact

* Impact on the Irish border
* Good Friday Agreement
* Impact on the EU
* Economic effects
* Effects on Gibraltar
* Scientific cooperation
* Effects on popular culture
* Retained EU law
* 2021 Jersey dispute

EU–UK relations

* Relations pre- and post-Brexit
* EU–UK trade negotiation
* EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)
* Partnership Council
* Partnership Assembly

* * *

Relations with EU member states

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Akrotiri and Dhekelia
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Ireland–UK border
* British–Irish Council
* North/South Ministerial Council
* Italy
* Lithuania
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Spain
* Status of Gibraltar
* Gibraltar–Spain border
* Sweden

* * *

* Conjectured EEA membership

Opposition

* Post-referendum opinion polling
* New initiatives
* Change Britain
* More United
* Open Britain
* The New European
* Unite to Remain
* Led By Donkeys
* Revoke Article 50 petition
* Postcards from the 48%
* Proposed second Scottish independence referendum

* * *

Calls for a second referendum

* People's Vote
* Britain for Europe
* European Movement UK
* For our Future's Sake
* Healthier IN the EU
* InFacts
* Open Britain
* Our Future Our Choice
* Scientists for EU
* Other organisations
* Best for Britain
* Bollocks to Brexit
* Change UK
* Liberal Democrats
* Right to Vote

Timeline

|  Bloomberg speech|  Jan 2013

|

Referendum Bill blocked| Jan 2014
European Parliament election|  May 2014
2015 general election|  May 2015
Renegotiation begins|  Jun 2015
Referendum Act passed|  Dec 2015
Renegotiation concluded|  Feb 2016
Referendum held|  Jun 2016
David Cameron resigns as PM|  Jul 2016
Theresa May becomes PM|  Jul 2016
Article 50 judgement|  Jan 2017
Brexit plan presented| Feb 2017
Notification Act passed|  Mar 2017
Article 50 invoked|  Mar 2017
Repeal Bill plan presented| Mar 2017
2017 general election|  Jun 2017
Brexit negotiations begin|  Jun 2017
Withdrawal Act passed| Jun 2018
Chequers plan presented|  Jul 2018
Withdrawal agreement plan presented|  July 2018
Withdrawal agreement released|  Nov 2018
Scottish Continuity Bill blocked| Dec 2018
Meaningful votes|  Jan–Mar 2019
Brexit delayed until 12 April|  Mar 2019
Cooper–Letwin Act passed|  Apr 2019
Brexit delayed until 31 October|  Apr 2019
European Parliament election|  May 2019
Theresa May resigns as PM|  Jul 2019
Boris Johnson becomes PM|  Jul 2019
Prorogation and annulment|  Aug–Sep 2019
Benn Act passed|  Sep 2019
Withdrawal agreement revised|  Oct 2019
Brexit delayed until 31 January|  Oct 2019
2019 general election|  Dec 2019
Agreement Act passed|  Jan 2020
UK leaves the European Union|  Jan 2020
Implementation period begins|  Jan 2020
UK–EU trade deal agreed|  Dec 2020
Future Relationship Act passed|  Dec 2020
Scottish Continuity Act passed|  Dec 2020
Implementation period ends|  Dec 2020
New EU–UK relationship begins|  Jan 2021
UK–EU trade deal ratified|  Apr 2021
Windsor Framework released|  Feb 2023
Windsor framework adopted|  Mar 2023

* EU portal
* UK portal

* v
* t
* e

The Department for International Trade (DIT)[1] was a department of the United Kingdom Government, from July 2016 to February 2023. It was responsible for striking and extending trade agreements between the United Kingdom and foreign countries, as well as for encouraging foreign investment and export trade.[2]

DIT's purpose was 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 final Secretary of State for International Trade, was Kemi Badenoch.[2] On 7 February 2023, the department was merged in a reshuffle with parts of the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to form the new Department for Business and Trade. Badenoch became Secretary of State for Business and Trade.[3]

The department was scrutinised by the International Trade Select Committee.

## History

[edit]

The entrance to the Department for International Trade's headquarters off Whitehall, Central London

The department was created by former Prime Minister Theresa May, shortly after she took office on 13 July 2016, following the United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union.[4] It took on the responsibilities of UK Trade & Investment, which was previously operated by both the Foreign 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.[5] In doing so, the department can trace its institutional history back to the longstanding Department of Trade and Industry (1970-2007), itself formed from a merger of the Board of Trade with the short-lived Ministry of Technology in 1970.

The Board of Trade was the government body, arising from the Privy Council with historic responsibility for British commerce and industry. When the UK joined the European Economic Community in 1973, the Board lost most of its powers and responsibilities, which had become a competencies of the EEC, later the European Union. Nevertheless, the Board persisted as a dormant institution whose presidency remained a subsidiary title of the Secretary of State with responsibilities for trade. In 2017 the Board was reconstituted as an advisory body, designed to engage with the whole of the UK on the UK’s global trade and investment agenda, with a focus on promoting the UK regions as destinations to trade and do business with.[6] The Board's president remains the Secretary of State for International Trade, who by virtue of their membership of the Privy Council, is the only member. Advisors to the Board include industry leaders, academics, junior ministers in the Department for International Trade, and the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The reports of the Board of Trade are an important form of policy direction for the Department for International Trade.

By February 2017, the department employed about 200 trade negotiators.[7]

The department was dissolved on 7 February 2023, and its functions and personnel transferred to the new Department for Business and Trade. [8]

## Ministers

[edit]

The final roster of Ministers in the Department for International Trade were as follows:[9]

Minister  | Rank  | Title  | Portfolio

|
|
|

Kemi Badenoch MP  | Secretary of State  | Secretary of State
President of the Board of Trade
Minister for Women and Equalities | The Secretary of State is responsible for securing world-class free trade agreements and reducing market access barriers, ensuring that consumers and businesses can benefit from both; encouraging economic growth and a green industrial revolution across all parts of the UK through attracting and retaining inward investment. They are responsible for supporting UK business to take full advantage of trade opportunities, including those arising from delivering free trade agreements, facilitating UK exports. Additionally they champion the rules-based international trading system and operating the UK’s new trading system, including protecting UK businesses from unfair trade practices.[10]

As Minister for Women and Equalities, the Secretary of State also has responsibility for developing an equalities policy that is based on individual autonomy and dignity and for promoting equality of opportunity for everyone.[11]

Greg Hands MP  | Minister of State  | Minister of State for Trade Policy | The Minister of State supports the Secretary of State with all free trade agreements, trade remedies, the Board of Trade, market access strategy, and union policy. The Minister is also responsible for external engagement via the Strategic Trade Advisory Group, sectoral trade advisory groups, trade union advisory groups, civil society and think tank roundtables.[12]
Dominic Johnson, Baron Johnson of Lainston | Minister of State  |  Minister for Investment | The Minister of State encourages economic growth and a green industrial revolution across all parts of the UK through attracting and retaining inward investment. The minister’s responsibilities include: investment promotion across all sectors, the Office for Investment, delivering an investment strategy to drive further inward investment to the UK, investor relationship management, Sovereign Investment Partnerships, and delivering key investment events.[13]

This role has typically been the domain of a member of the House of Lords.

Nigel Huddleston MP  | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State  | Minister for International Trade  | The Minister is responsible for supporting the Secretary of State with: trade remedies, tariffs, disputes, parliamentary and legislative activity, sanctions and trade defence, securing global supply chains, the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU), and the Department for International Trade’s corporate activity.[14]
Andrew Bowie MP  | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State  | Minister for Exports  | The Minister's responsibilities include export promotion across all sectors, UK Export Finance (UKEF), trade missions and trade shows. The minister also supports the Secretary of State with the delivery of an export strategy to boost exports across the UK, supporting small and medium sized businesses to export, the Trade Envoy programme, and the Department's contribution to the GREAT campaign - the government's flagship international communications programme designed to drive national economic growth by encouraging an international audience to visit, study, trade, invest, live and work in the UK.[15][16]
Maria Caulfield MP  | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State  |  Minister for Women | Supporting the Secretary of State in their role as Minister for Women and Equalities.
Stuart Andrew MP  | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State  |  Minister for Equalities | Supporting the Secretary of State in their role as Minister for Women and Equalities.

The role of Minister of State for International Trade was downgraded, soon after Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister in October 2022, to the more junior rank of Parliamentary Under-Secretary. At the same time, Kemi Badenoch's assumption of the role of Minister for Women and Equalities saw the appointment of two additional Parliamentary Under-Secretaries to support this additional portfolio. Badenoch retained the portfolio for Women and Equalities when the department was dissolved and merged.

## Trade remedies

[edit]

After Britain left the EU, the Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) of the Department for International Trade was created to investigate whether new trade remedies are needed to prevent injury to UK industries caused by unfair trading practices and unforeseen surges in imports. These remedies usually take the form of additional duties on those imports.[17]

Following Royal Assent of the Trade Act 2021[18] TRID became an independent arms-length body, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), on 1 June 2021.[19] The Authority is based in Reading.[20]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Department for International Trade". GOV.UK. GOV.UK. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
2. ^ a b "About us – Department for International Trade". GOV.UK. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
3. ^ Crerar, Pippa; Elgot, Jessica (7 February 2023). "Rishi Sunak appoints Greg Hands as Conservative party chair in cabinet mini-reshuffle". The Guardian. The Guardian. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
4. ^ CSW and Politics Home staff (13 July 2016). "Theresa May signals Whitehall rejig with two new Cabinet posts". Civil Service World. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
5. ^ "Machinery of Government Changes:Written statement - HCWS94". UK Parliament. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
6. ^ "Board of Trade". GOV.UK. UK Government. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
7. ^ Trading places / Negotiating post-Brexit deals. Economist, February 4th-10th 2017, page 25
8. ^ Boscia, Stefan (7 February 2023). "Rishi Sunak merges UK trade and business departments in Whitehall shake-up". Politico. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
9. ^ "Our ministers". GOV.UK. UK Government. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
10. ^ "Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade". GOV.UK. UK Government. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
11. ^ "Minister for Women and Equalities". GOV.UK. UK Government. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
12. ^ "Minister of State (Minister for Trade Policy)". GOV.UK. UK Government. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
13. ^ "Minister of State (Minister for Investment)". GOV.UK. UK Government. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
14. ^ "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for International Trade)". GOV.UK. UK Government. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
15. ^ "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Exports)". GOV.UK. UK Government. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
16. ^ "GREAT campaign drives growth across the four corners of the UK". GOV.UK. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
17. ^ "About us". GOV.UK. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
18. ^ "Historic Trade Act becomes law". GOV.UK. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
19. ^ "About us". GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
20. ^ Trade Remedies Authority, Contact the Trade Remedies Authority, accessed 26 September 2022

## External links

[edit]

* Department for International Trade – official website
* Trade Remedies Authority
* History of Nos. 3–8, Whitehall Place

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template