Reiulf Steen was a Norwegian politician with the Norwegian Labour Party. He was active in the Labour Party from 1958 to 1990, serving as deputy party chairman from 1965 to 1975 and chairman from 1975 to 1981. Steen served as Norwegian ambassador to Chile between 1992 and 1996.

The Minister of Trade and Shipping was a councilor of state and chief of the Norway's Ministry of Trade and Shipping. The position was created on 6 December 1947 when the position of Minister of Trade and Industry was split into a portfolio for trade and shipping, and a Minister of Industry. As a prelude, a separate Minister of Shipping had been created between 1942 and 1945 to lead the Ministry of Shipping. The Minister of Trade and Industry had its own ministry until 1988, when the responsibility was taken over by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The position was abolished in 1997, when the portfolio was taken over by the Minister of Trade and Industry.