A globally respected trade negotiator, tasked
with sealing deals with the UK’s key trading partners, has been
appointed today by the Prime Minister and the International Trade
Secretary.
Internationally recognised expert Crawford
Falconer will act as head of profession for trade negotiators and
will bolster the Civil Service’s trade negotiation skills,
bringing over 25 years of public service in trade and foreign
affairs.
As the Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser and
Second Permanent Secretary at the Department for International
Trade (DIT) he will be responsible to the Secretary of State for
International Trade, The Rt Hon MP for negotiating with Ministers
the best global trade deals that will benefit the whole of the
UK.
The new expert Second Permanent Secretary post
was created to support the establishment of a world-class trade
negotiation function and lead this new profession within the
Civil Service, reporting to the DIT Permanent Secretary.
Together with his team Crawford will:
- develop and negotiate free trade agreements and market access
deals with non-EU countries;
- negotiate plurilateral trade deals on specific sectors or
products;
- make the department a ‘centre of excellence’ for negotiation
and British trade; and
- support the UK’s membership of the World Trade Organisation.
Since its formation in July 2016, the headcount at DIT has
increased to a global workforce of over 3,000 people. The Trade
Policy Group that includes policy and country specialists, as
well as expert economic analysts and lawyers, has itself
quadrupled in size.
International Trade Secretary,
said:
“Britain is a great global trading nation and,
as we leave the EU, we will embrace the world and seek to build
an outward-looking Britain that is confident on the world
stage.
“We’re attracting the very best global talent to
DIT and as an international economic department Crawford brings
extensive experience of trade negotiation and foreign affairs and
will play a key leadership role, with Ministers and the first
Permanent Secretary as we further build our trade
capability.”
Welcoming the appointment said:
"As the UK's first Chief Trade Negotiation
Adviser, Crawford Falconer will play a crucial role in building
the Department for International Trade's trade negotiation
capability, enabling the new department to take forward its vital
mission of promoting free trade and supporting UK business on the
global stage. I am delighted that we have been able to
secure someone for this role with a long and distinguished track
record in international trade negotiations.
“Crawford Falconer is an excellent addition to
DIT's senior team and
I look forward to working with him."
, Permanent Secretary at
DIT, said:
“Crawford Falconer brings a wealth of global
trade expertise to the Department for International Trade from
over 25 years of working on trade policy in the New Zealand
government, the OECD and academia.
“International trade drives the prosperity of
the UK and the world. As we build our relationships to create a
more global Britain, Crawford will be central to our work to
secure the best trade deals that deliver for businesses and
consumers.”
Crawford Falconer said:
“As the UK prepares to leave the EU, it will be
top of the Government’s agenda to turn the enormous new
opportunities opening up for the UK into win-win agreements with
our trading partners around the globe.
“That will bring tangible new gains to us at
home, and it will bring gains to those trading partners that join
us. As the world’s fifth largest economic power, the UK will
bring much needed leadership to the international trade agenda. I
am absolutely delighted to join this hugely exciting new
journey.”
DIT has already established a series of nine
‘working groups’ with 15 countries including India, China and
Australia and high-level dialogues to explore the best ways of
progressing our trade and investment relationships.
The announcement comes as Dr Fox prepares to
visit his US counterparts in Washington (Monday 19 June 2017) to
explore ways of deepening trade and economic links on what will
be his first international visit since being reappointed
International Trade Secretary.
ENDS
Notes to editors
[if !supportLists]·
[endif]A New Zealand/UK
dual-national, Crawford Falconer is currently Professor of Global
Value Chains and Trade at Lincoln University. This follows a long
career at the heart of NZ’s Foreign Office, specialising in
trade. He was latterly the NZ Deputy Secretary and Vice Minister
for International Trade and Foreign Affairs. He is a former NZ
Ambassador to the WTO, and the holder of a variety of
trade-related posts within the Ministry.
