Chandra has been credited by U.S. officials with helping to strike the U.K’s trade agreement with Washington. Multiple industry figures have described him as instrumental in negotiations that secured a 10 percent tariff ceiling on British exports to the U.S., as well as a controversial drug pricing agreement struck in December.
The former boss of secretive advisory firm Hakluyt — founded by a group of former MI6 spies — Chandra has worked closely with several figures across the Trump administration, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He has also played a key role in trade talks with the Gulf states.
Sky News first reported that Chandra would remain in post. Burnham’s team declined to comment.