Department for International Trade

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is a UK government department responsible for striking and extending trade agreements between the UK and non-EU states. The department was created by Prime Minister Theresa May, shortly after she took office on 13 July 2016 following the United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union. DIT's purpose is to develop, coordinate and deliver a new trade policy for the UK, including preparing for and then negotiating free trade agreements and market access deals with non-EU countries. The new department is a specialised body with significant new trade negotiating capacity. It took on the responsibilities of UK Trade and Investment, which was previously operated by both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, it also took on the latter's other relevant trade functions; as well as responsibility for UK Export Finance. It is overseen by the Secretary of State for International Trade, currently Liam Fox. As of February 2017, the department employs about 200 trade negotiators.