News story

DIT announces top negotiating team for 2022

The International Trade Secretary has confirmed the latest line-up of Chief Trade Negotiators.

The International Trade Secretary has confirmed the latest line-up of Chief Trade Negotiators who will be going into bat for Global Britain to strike ambitious new trade deals across the world.

The Chief Trade Negotiators will be bastions for free and fair trade, travelling around the world and leading negotiating teams to broker new deals that will support higher-paying jobs in high-value sectors; curb the cost of living by lowering prices; open dynamic new markets for exporters; and level up the regions of our country by boosting enterprise across the UK.

Many of the refreshed line-up of Chief Trade Negotiators have already worked on securing the UK’s trade deals with 70 countries plus the EU – trade with these countries was worth £772bn in 2020 - and together they have decades of experience and country expertise.

2022 is already building on this success and is set to be a 5-star year for UK trade. The UK launched talks with India in January and has outlined its ambition to kickstart negotiations with Mexico, Canada, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, while also being on track to secure accession to CPTPP by the end of the year.

With the UK-Australia free trade agreement now signed, Vivien Life will continue in her role as Chief Negotiator as the Department continues to engage with Parliament on bringing the agreement into force.

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

As a truly Global Britain, we will seize the golden opportunities created by seismic shifts in the world economy and play to our country’s strengths to bring jobs and prosperity to every part of the UK. We look forward to seeing the ambitious deals we agreed with Australia and New Zealand come into force.

2022 is already shaping up to be a 5-star year for UK trade, with negotiations launched with India last month and plans for new talks with Mexico, Canada and the Gulf, while also securing CPTPP accession.

Our Chief Trade Negotiators will be going to every corner of the globe to promote and secure free and fair trade, ensuring the UK is once again a trailblazing, deal-making nation.

Further information

Please see the table below for a list of the Chief Trade Negotiator line-up for 2022.

Country Chief Negotiator
New Zealand Matt Davies
CPTPP Graham Zebedee
Mexico Charlotte Heyes
Canada Charlotte Heyes
India Harjinder Kang
Singapore Graham Floater
US Graham Floater
GCC Tom Wintle
Israel James Clarke
Published 14 February 2022