The UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has today confirmed the
appointment of Jessica Blakely and Carmen Suarez as Chief
Executives in a jobshare arrangement. They will take up the role
from 2 June.
The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK's independent public
body responsible for investigating allegations of unfair
trading practices and unforeseen surges in imports that cause
injury to UK industry. It makes evidence-based recommendations to
the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
The TRA's Chair recently met with the Secretary
of State for Business and Trade to agree how during the current
global trade turmoil, the TRA will be stepping up its active data
monitoring of emerging trade risks to help the Government spot
and tackle the potential dumping of unfairly low-priced goods
into the UK.
New leadership on trade remedies
Jessica and Carmen join the TRA from the Ministry of Housing,
Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and have held a number
of senior roles both within and outside government, with a
particular focus on trade, investment and regulation.
Business and Trade Secretary said:
“This Government is standing up for our national interest, and as
part of our Plan for Change, creating a level playing field where
UK businesses can thrive and grow.
The work of the TRA has never been more important in achieving
this objective, and I'm delighted to welcome Jessica and Carmen
to their new role. Their skills will be vital to ensure the TRA
continues to protect British producers from unfairly low-priced
imports.”
Jessica and Carmen have jobshared since 2017. Their senior roles
together have included: leading the Department for Business'
(BEIS) analytical work on EU Exit and international trade; the
coordination of the UK Government work on no-deal business
readiness; Senior Responsible Officers (SROs) for the level
playing field chapter of the UK/EU trade negotiations (including
subsidy control and remedial measures); establishing the UK's
domestic subsidy control regime; leading on Brexit Opportunities
and regulatory reform in Cabinet Office; and most recently,
leading the delivery of local growth funds and Freeports in
MHCLG.
Before joining the Civil Service, Jessica's career featured 12
years working in Investment Banking, providing strategic and
financial advice to CEOs and boards of directors on mergers,
acquisitions and capital raisings in London, Singapore and
Sydney. After joining the Civil Service in 2010, she led
analytical work in BEIS' Better Regulation Executive and then the
Europe Directorate.
Carmen joined the Civil Service in 2017 from the Financial
Conduct Authority, where she led on embedding competition in
financial regulation. Previously, she worked at the Competition
and Markets Authority and Office of Fair Trading. including as
lead on a number of market studies and head of evaluation. Before
these Civil Service roles, she was Chief Economist at the
National Farmers Union of England and Wales.
TRA Chair said: ‘I am delighted that two
leaders of Jessica and Carmen's quality have joined us at this
turbulent time in the international trade environment. They have
exactly the skills and experience to lead the TRA through the
changes that are needed to help UK business navigate this new
world.'
New appointees Carmen and Jessica said: “We are thrilled to be
joining the TRA and look forward to working with its Board, staff
and stakeholders to ensure that trade remedies, particularly at
this crucial time, are a cornerstone of the UK's international
standing and growth ambitions.”
Background Information
- Trade remedy measures are a trade defence tool to protect
domestic industries against injury caused by unfair trade
practices or unforeseen increases in imports. They are a specific
type of tariffs allowed under World Trade Organization rules when
specific criteria are met (evidence of dumping, subsidy or a
surge in imports). They usually take the form of an additional
duty placed on imports of specific products, which are collected
by HMRC prior to a good entering into free circulation.
- The TRA has been led by Steve O'Donoghue as interim Chief
Executive since March 2025, when the TRA's previous Chief
Executive Oliver Griffiths left to take up a new role –
TRA
announces interim CEO and confirms board leadership -
GOV.UK.
