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Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of UK in Bolivia

10th February 2011

Trade and Investment: the case for open markets

I wrote recently in the Bolivian newspaper La Razon about the importance of free trade and the Doha Round of trade negotiations. As Prime Minister David Cameron has said, 2011 is a “make or break” year: we go forward, boosting free trade and global prosperity, or backwards to the dark ages of protectionism and beggar-thy-neighbour.

This week, the British government launched its Trade and Investment White Paper The White Paper represents an initial British government statement on the UK’s approach to Trade and Investment, in relation to three strategic goals: to maximise the opportunities for UK business; to strengthen the multilateral trading system; and to enable developing countries like Bolivia to benefit from trade and investment.

What are the key messages? First, that trade and growth are closely linked. The more protectionism there is, the more the least developed countries in the world suffer disproportionately from trade distortions. Britain will continue to be a voice for open markets. Second, if we can avoid protectionist temptations, there is huge potential over the next decade for growth in trade and investment globally. And third, that by working through the multilateral trade system, we can ensure that lower income countries integrate fully into the global market. We firmly believe that trade is a powerful tool to tackle health problems, climate change, and help rebuild and develop fragile economies, as well as re-energise regional integration.

The Trade and Investment White Paper is hugely ambitious. But it is based on solid reality. Open markets and global trade matter. And Britain will continue to make the case at home and internationally.

About Nigel Baker

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as…

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy in Havana, Cuba (2003-6) and then as British Ambassador in La Paz, Bolivia (2007-11). In July 2016, Nigel finished his posting, and is currently back in London.

As the first British Ambassador to the Holy See ever to have a blog, Nigel provided a regular window on what the Embassy and the Ambassador does. The blogs covered a wide range of issues, from Royal and Ministerial visits to Diplomacy and Faith, freedom of religion, human trafficking and climate change.

More on Nigel’s career

Nigel was based in London between 1998 and 2003. He spent two years on European Union issues (for the UK 1998 EU Presidency and on European Security and Defence questions), before crossing St James’s Park to work for three years as The Assistant Private Secretary to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. At St James’s Palace, Nigel worked on international issues, including the management of The Prince of Wales’s overseas visits and tours, on the Commonwealth, interfaith issues, the arts and international development.

Nigel spent much of the early part of his FCO career in Central Europe, after an initial stint as Desk Officer for the Maghreb countries in the Near East and North Africa department (1990-91). Between 1992 and 1996, Nigel served in the British embassies in Prague and Bratislava, the latter being created in 1993 after the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia into the separate Czech and Slovak Republics.

Nigel joined the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) in September 1989. Between 1996 and 1998 he took a two year academic sabbatical to research and write about themes in 18th century European history, being based in Verona but also researching in Cambridge, Paris and Naples. The research followed from Nigel’s time as a student at Cambridge (1985-88) where he read history and was awarded a First Class Honours degree, followed by his MA in 1992.

Before joining the Foreign Office, Nigel worked briefly for the Conservative Research Department in London at the time of the 1989 European election campaign.

Nigel married Alexandra (Sasha) in 1997. They have one son, Benjamin, born in Bolivia in September 2008.

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business development investment protectionism trade

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