Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy
{{Short description|Position in British foreign policy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
A Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy is a position in British foreign policy, within the Department for International Trade since 2016, and formerly with the UK Trade & Investment government department from 2003 to 2016.[http://news.bis.gov.uk/Press-Releases/New-trade-envoys-and-business-investment-to-boost-trade-links-68328.aspx BIS - Press Releases - New trade envoys and business investment to boost trade links]
Trade Envoys are appointed by the Prime Minister in order to promote British business and trade interests abroad. The Special Representative for International Trade and Investment is a currently dormant position previously held by a member of the British Royal Family, who had the responsibility of representing the Sovereign for trade purposes. Following the 2012 Cabinet reshuffle, Ken Clarke was made a roving trade envoy, focusing on promoting British expertise to emerging economies, in particular China and Brazil.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19918533 BBC News - Ken Clarke given trade envoy role]
Between September 2012 and November 2013, Lord Marland served as the Prime Minister's trade envoy. Upon his suggestion, and in collaboration with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the post was expanded in November 2012, when David Cameron announced the creation of eight new trade envoys to selected high-growth and developing markets.[http://www.ukti.gov.uk/uktihome/media/item/403560.html Internet Memory | UK Government Web Archive] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140403154217/http://www.ukti.gov.uk/uktihome/media/item/403560.html |date=2014-04-03 }} Additional representatives of the British government were appointed in March 2014 following the success of the initial programme. On 23 August 2021 a further set of envoys were announced, including prominent Brexiteers Lord Botham and Kate Hoey.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3j3z7j2zdeo BBC News - Lord Botham appointed trade envoy to Australia]{{cite web |title=Prime Minister's Trade Envoy Programme, Press release made on 23 August 2021 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-new-trade-envoys-to-boost-british-business-around-the-world |website=GOV.UK |publisher=UK Government |access-date=2 September 2021 |language=English |date=23 August 2021}} The appointment of Ian Botham as a Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy was viewed by some people as unexpected, as he has no experience of economic or trade matters. When he was first appointed to the House of Lords, Botham had said that he would join discussions "“when they are debating something I know about – like sport or the countryside", but that there was "[n]ot much point if it’s a trade deal with Japan.”{{cite news |title=Ian Botham as Trade Envoy |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/ian-botham-brexit-prisoners-abattoirs-b1907269.html |access-date=2 September 2021 |work=The Independent |date=24 August 2021 |language=English}}
In January 2025, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds appointed 32 trade envoys, covering 79 markets.{{Cite web|url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-01-28/hcws392|title=Written statements: Written questions, answers and statements|date=28 January 2025|website=UK Parliament|language=en|access-date=29 January 2025}}
Current Prime Ministerial Trade Envoys
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="4" |United Kingdom Prime Ministerial Trade Envoys |
|---|
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center" | 100px |
| Region/Market
! Trade Envoy ! Political Affiliation ! Appointed |
| colspan=4 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"| Africa |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|North Africa
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Liberal Democrats | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Egypt
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"| | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Southern Africa
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Morocco and Francophone West Africa
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Ethiopia
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Ghana
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Nigeria
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|East Africa
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Co-op | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|South Africa
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| colspan=4 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"| Oceania |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Australia
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|New Zealand
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| colspan=4 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"|East and Southeast Asia |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|The Republic of Korea
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Taiwan
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"| | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Indonesia and ASEAN
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Brunei
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Conservative Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Japan
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| colspan=4 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"|South Asia |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Pakistan
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"| | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Sri Lanka
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Bangladesh
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"| | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| colspan=4 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"|West and Central Asia |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Türkiye
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Co-op | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Israel
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Crossbencher (formerly Labour Party) | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{Start date and age|2020|10|5|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}{{cite web |title=Prime Minister's Trade Envoy Programme, Statement made on 5 October 2020, Statement UIN HLWS480 |url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2020-10-05/hlws480 |date=5 October 2020|website=UK Parliament - Written questions, answers and statements |language=en|access-date=30 August 2021}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Azerbaijan and Central Asia
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Liberal Democrats and Alliance Party of Northern Ireland | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Jordan, Kuwait and Palestine Territories
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| colspan=4 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"|Europe |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Ukraine
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Co-op | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Switzerland & Liechtenstein
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| colspan=4 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"|North America |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Mexico
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Commonwealth Caribbean
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Central America
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"| | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| colspan=4 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"|South America |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Southern Cone
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center|Andean
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" | | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Brazil
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"| | scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Labour Party | scope="row" style="text-align:center"| |
References
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