Blow to UK global trade as new watchdog chief quits before launch

Liam Fox’s international trade department has faced further criticism for its lack of Brexit readiness after it emerged that the creation of the watchdog tasked with protecting UK companies from unfair global trading practices was behind schedule. The government said on Wednesday that the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) would not be established in time for a no-deal Brexit. The organisation exists in shadow form only, as a part of the Department for International Trade, and is without a chairman after the person designated unexpectedly quit last week for personal reasons.