David Boling, who was deputy assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Japan from 2015 until last month, and who negotiated on the U.S.-Japan mini trade deal and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, announced on LinkedIn that he recently joined Eurasia Group, where he is the director for Japan and Asia trade.
Edelman Global Advisory hired Everett Eissenstat, who previously was General Motors senior vice president-global public policy, as chair of North America and global trade lead, the company said in a news release. Before joining GM, Eissenstat was a White House deputy assistant to the president for international economic affairs and chief international trade counsel for the Senate Finance Committee. He also has been assistant U.S. trade representative for the Americas.
Jim Swanson, director of the cargo and security controls division, for cargo and conveyance security in the CBP Office of Field Operations, said during a National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones legislative conference Feb. 15 that he intends to retire at the end of July. He joined CBP in July 1991.
Max Vekich, a former president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, was sworn in Feb. 15 as a commissioner on the Federal Maritime Commission. Vekich, who was confirmed by the Senate five days earlier, worked as a longshoreman for more than 40 years and served four terms in the Washington state House of Representatives 1983-1991. “He understands port and supply chain issues from the perspective of a worker on the frontlines of making cargo move,” FMC Chair Daniel Maffei said. “I am confident he will have many important contributions to make to the work of the Federal Maritime Commission and I am happy to welcome him as a colleague.”
Jennifer Knight was appointed the Commerce Department's deputy assistant secretary for textiles, consumer goods and materials. Immediately before joining the government, she was the president and chief operating officer of American Woolen Company, which operates a small mill in Connecticut that makes wool for garments and military uniforms. She also had experience setting up textile manufacturing in China and Central America.
Rufus Yerxa, previously president of the National Foreign Trade Council, is now senior adviser at McLarty Associates, the consulting company said Jan. 31.
The National Foreign Trade Council named Tiffany Smith vice president for global trade policy. Most recently, she was a senior policy adviser in Mayer Brown's international trade and government relations practice. Before joining the law firm, she worked for 16 years in the federal government, including as a Senate staffer, and at the Commerce Department and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Erik Autor, former president of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones, has joined customs and trade law firm Barlow & Co. as of counsel, he announced on LinkedIn. Autor's background includes a clerkship at the Court of International Trade and working at Skadden Arps as a lawyer in its international trade practice group. He will assist companies with their customs and trade matters, the firm said.
With the exit of Rep. Devin Nunes of California to a new social media company, Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee shuffled subcommittee leadership positions. Rep. Adrian Smith of Nebraska will be the new ranking member for the Trade Subcommittee, Ways and Means ranking member Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said.
Robert Friedman, former attorney-adviser for the State Department's Office of Legal Adviser, joined Holland & Knight as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office's international trade practice, the firm announced. Friedman will advise businesses, trade associations and other clients on issues pertaining to "economic sanctions, export controls, foreign direct investment, supply chain security, customs laws, data privacy and cybersecurity, market access, anti-corruption and national security regulations," the firm said. Most recently, Friedman was an international trade partner at Harris Wiltshire.