UK names new trade commissioner for China and Hong Kong

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UK names China trade commissioner

Highlights

Kate Harrisson appointed HM Trade Commissioner for China and Hong Kong, starting September, following recent UK-China trade engagement and leadership changes.
Recent UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission meeting advanced £2.2 billion in export deals and approximately £2.3 billion in market access opportunities for UK firms over five years.
The commissioner's role focuses on expanding trade and investment ties, improving market access, and delivering secure growth, targeting intensified competition and innovation in China.

Appointment follows recent UK-China trade engagement

As announced by GOV.UK, Kate Harrisson has been appointed His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for China and Hong Kong and is set to start in September. She moves from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, where she currently serves as director for Asia Pacific and, until recently, led the China department.

Her appointment comes after the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission meeting on 2 July, co-chaired by Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao at Mansion House. That meeting builds on the prime minister's visit to China in January 2026, which pushes forward 2.2 billion pounds in export deals and about 2.3 billion pounds in market access opportunities for UK companies over five years.

Harrisson brings prior government and private-sector experience in the region. Her earlier roles include British ambassador to Peru, deputy head of mission in Vietnam, and postings in Beijing and Hong Kong, while outside government she completes a two-year secondment to Arup between 2022 and 2024 as strategy director for emerging markets.

Trade role spans investment, market access and policy

The HM Trade Commissioner for China and Hong Kong works with the wider diplomatic network to coordinate the UK government's overseas trade and prosperity agenda. The role carries responsibility for Department for Business and Trade activity across China and Hong Kong, including expanding trade and investment links, improving market access for British businesses and helping shape trade policy.

Harrisson says the UK needs to support businesses seeking to succeed in the world's second largest economy as technological innovation accelerates and global competition intensifies. She also says the role is focused on delivering secure and resilient growth across the United Kingdom, creating jobs and supporting long-term competitiveness.

She replaces Lewis Neal, who takes up the role in September 2023. Neal says his tenure helps secure new market access for British firms, supports exporters and attracts investment into the UK, adding that recent in-person trade talks and a prime ministerial visit set the direction for a longer-term trading relationship.

Our earlier article on the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement explained that the pact is coming into force, delivering tariff cuts and wider market access for goods and services between the two economies. We noted that it includes new openings in procurement and services, alongside social security relief that can exempt eligible Indian professionals and employers from UK National Insurance contributions for up to five years.

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