LONDON - Britain will strengthen its trade defences by handing its business secretary the power to direct rapid investigations into unfair practices under new rules designed to deal with rising global protectionism, according to draft guidance seen by Reuters.

Britain launched the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) after it left the European Union, but the independent body has been criticised for being too slow to meet the challenge of a global trade war that risks cheap goods being dumped by the likes of China.