Under Badenoch’s watch, UK to spread mantra of free trade and free markets

AS Kemi Badenoch, the UK’s new Secretary of State for International Trade, settles into this prominent role in Prime Minister Liz Truss’ administration, she has underscored her commitment to faster economic growth, as well as free trade and freer markets.

“Looking forward to unleashing Global Britain’s full potential so we can create more jobs, more growth and more opportunity across the UK,” the 42-year-old said when she met the department’s staff recently. “I’m a free market Conservative, very similar to Prime Minister Truss. I’m looking forward to hearing lots of ideas to help spread the mantra of free trade, free markets and freedom across the world.”

Despite Badenoch’s spin, achieving those tasks will be far from easy. William Bain, the head of trade policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is concerned about the differences between the European Union and the UK over the Northern Ireland customs border, amid fears that the EU will renew tariffs on British goods.