Elaine Trevino, a former deputy secretary for California's agriculture department, has been chosen to be the next chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the White House announced. Trevino is president of the Almond Alliance of California. USTR Katherine Tai issued a statement after the announcement: “Elaine Trevino understands the importance of America’s farmers and farming communities to the vitality of our economy. Her experience will help the Biden-Harris Administration craft durable trade policy that creates broad-based prosperity. Throughout her impressive career serving in leadership positions at the state and federal level, Elaine has developed strong relationships with key stakeholders and demonstrated a keen understanding of trade and agriculture policy. If confirmed as Chief Agriculture Negotiator, Elaine would be the first woman of color and the first Latina in this critical position that will help USTR advance President Biden’s vision to increase American competitiveness and Build Back Better. I hope the U.S. Senate can quickly confirm her to fill this important role so she can get to work on behalf of the American people.”
International Trade Commission investigative attorney Monica Bhattacharyya will now serve as an administrative law judge, the commission announced Sept. 13. As an ALJ, Bhattacharyya will “manage an active litigation docket, preside over evidentiary hearings, and make initial determinations in the Commission’s investigations involving unfair practices in import trade under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930,” the ITC said. Bhattacharyya joined the ITC in 2012 as an investigative attorney in the Office of Unfair Import Investigations. She previously was a partner at Kasowitz Benson, working in the firm's intellectual property group in its New York office.
The Biden administration announced it is nominating Marisa Lago to serve as the undersecretary of commerce for international trade, a position that directs the International Trade Administration, which has an annual budget of about $483 million. Lago is the director of the New York City Department of City Planning, and served in the Obama administration as the Treasury Department's assistant secretary for international markets and development. If confirmed by the Senate, she would replace the acting undersecretary, Diane Farrell.
The National Foreign Trade Council announced that NFTC Vice President Jake Colvin will become the NFTC president on Oct. 1, replacing Rufus Yerxa. “I am thrilled that the NFTC Board has selected Jake Colvin as the next President,” Rufus Yerxa said. “Jake has been a huge asset to the organization for many years and nobody else knows its mission better." Yerxa said he relied on Colvin as the group worked on the issues of e-commerce, World Trade Organization reform, and China issues. "I have no doubt that NFTC’s leadership and influence in these and other areas will continue growing through Jake’s efforts.”
Dawn Shackleford, the assistant U.S. trade representative for the World Trade Organization and multilateral affairs, has been chosen to be assistant USTR for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, which covers Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands, in addition to Southeast Asia. "Dawn has demonstrated great skill and expertise across multiple positions at USTR,” USTR Katherine Tai said. “Her diplomatic experience and judgement will be invaluable as we engage our trading partners and resume our work to enhance U.S. economic cooperation in Southeast Asia and across the Pacific.” Shackleford was the lead negotiator on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and the lead negotiator for customs and trade facilitation in European trade talks that faltered. She joined USTR in 2004, after working at the Pentagon. Kent Shigetomi will serve as acting assistant USTR for WTO and multilateral affairs.
The International Wood Products Association named Bradley McKinney, previously vice president of economic security and operations for the Export-Import Bank, its new executive director, the trade group said.
A former assistant U.S. trade representative for services and investment is joining Rock Creek Global Advisors as a managing director. A founder of the firm noted that Daniel Bahar led in digital trade policy and negotiations and represented USTR on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). "His experience in negotiating investment rules with China, developing cutting-edge digital trade policy, and dealing with the intersection of national security and global commerce will be of great benefit to our clients," Daniel Price said.
After the sudden death of Richard Trumka, Liz Shuler was elected president of the AFL-CIO, the federation of unions announced Aug. 20. Shuler is the first woman to lead the AFL-CIO. Shuler started as an organizer at Electrical Workers (IBEW), and worked at that union's political/legislative affairs department in Washington, D.C., before becoming secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO.
A retired undersecretary of state, Nicholas Burns, has been named by the White House as its nominee for ambassador to China, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who also was chief of staff in the Obama White House, has been chosen to be the ambassador to Japan. The announcement came Aug. 20.
Erik Autor, president of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones, will leave the group as of Sept. 1, he said in an email. A replacement hasn't been named.