User:Tim O'Doherty/sandbox/7

International trade secretary (2019–2021)
After Johnson became prime minister, Truss was tipped for promotion in return for her support during his leadership campaign; it was thought she might have been appointed chancellor or business secretary, but was instead promoted to the position of secretary of state for international trade and president of the Board of Trade. Following the resignation of Amber Rudd, Truss was additionally appointed minister for women and equalities in September that year. Shortly after becoming international trade secretary, Truss embarked on international trips to the US, New Zealand, Australia and Japan. On her first trip to the US, Truss met with her American counterpart Robert Lighthizer, where she gave a speech on a potential USUK trade deal; in Australia she made unscripted comments on their free trade negotiations with the UK, both events to the dismay of Downing Street officials. Truss continued her documentation of trips through her social media.

In February 2020, a reshuffle took place following the general election which had been held in December. Truss feared that she would be dismissed after the blunders she had made on her previous international trips, but Johnson decided to keep her in post after Sajid Javid's resignation. During her time at the department, Truss became notorious for leaking information, with Dominic Cummings, Johnson's chief adviser, saying that Truss was "the only minister I shouted at in Number 10" because of her "compulsive pathological leaking". Truss's pursuit of a trade deal with the US concerned the National Farmers' Union, which worried about an influx of lower-quality food products if passed; the NFU, along with The Mail on Sunday, campaigned against such a deal that spring. The COVID-19 lockdowns eliminated international travel, with Truss attending virtual meetings; as a result, she became closer to her family.

By early 2021, Truss's attempted US trade deal was accepted as futile. Instead, she had focussed on joining the CPTPP, which necessitated free trade agreements with Australia, Japan,  and New Zealand, with the Australia deal, finalised in December, described as "the hardest thing she's ever got through"; the New Zealand deal was agreed shortly thereafter. By mid-2021, she had started to ingratiate herself with the parliamentary party in the event of a leadership election. In September, plans for an National Insurance increase were opposed by Truss; Downing Street expected her resignation, but Truss later privately decided against it.