The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade announced on 10 August 2026 the appointment of Alex Milward as His Majesty's Trade Commissioner for North America and His Majesty's Consul General to New York, a role he was to take up in August 2026.

According to the announcement, the UK and United States had recently concluded an Economic Prosperity Deal, with the trading relationship valued at $437 billion (£332 billion), and the UK said it was a leading investor in over 22 states nationwide, including New York, Texas and Florida. It also cited Canada ties, with a bilateral trading relationship worth C$62 billion (£34 billion) and the UK's CPTPP accession.

Milward was described as bringing more than 30 years of private and public sector experience, most recently heading the UK's Carbon Capture programme at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. He was to be supported by Deputy Trade Commissioner Alan Gogbashian and Deputy Consul General Mel Lawrence, and replaced Oliver Christian MVO, who had served as trade commissioner for North America since April 2025.