The offices of Secretary of State for External Affairs, Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce, and the Minister of Regional Economic Expansion were abolished and the offices of Secretary of State for External Affairs assisted by a Minister of International Trade and possibly a Minister of External Relations, and a Minister of Regional Industrial Expansion were created by Statute 29-30-31-32 Elizabeth II, c. 167, assented to November 17, 1983 and in force December 7, 1983.
The offices of Minister of Industry and Minister of Trade and Commerce were abolished and the office of Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce was created by Statute 17-18 Elizabeth II, c. 28, assented to March 28, 1969 and in force April 1, 1969.
Statute 42-43-44 Elizabeth II, c. 5 (1995), assented to March 26, 1995 and in force May 13, 1995 continues the Department of External Affairs under the name of Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, with a presiding minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It changes the French version of the title of the Minister for International Trade (ministre du Commerce extérieur) to the ministre du Commerce international and makes the required changes to the titles of officials of the Department. The Minister for External Relations becomes the Minister for International Cooperation.