| Post: | Secretary |
| Body: | State for International Trade |
| Insignia: | Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg |
| Insigniacaption: | Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government |
| Department: | Department for International Trade |
| Style: | International Trade Secretary (informal) The Right Honourable (UK and the Commonwealth) |
| Member Of: | Cabinet Privy Council Board of Trade |
| Reports To: | The Prime Minister |
| Status: | Secretary of state Minister of the Crown |
| Seat: | Westminster |
| Appointer: | The Crown |
| Appointer Qualified: | on advice of the Prime Minister |
| Termlength: | At His Majesty's Pleasure |
| Formation: | 13 July 2016 |
| Abolished: | 7 February 2023 |
| First: | Liam Fox |
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. Since the office's inception, the incumbent has concurrently been appointed President of the Board of Trade.
The office holder worked alongside the other International Trade ministers. The corresponding shadow minister is the shadow secretary of state for international trade. The secretary of state is 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.
Corresponding to what is generally known as a commerce minister in many other countries, the international trade secretary's remit includes:
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]
Colour key (for political parties):