The Coalition for a Prosperous America hired Charles Benoit, a trade lawyer who previously worked as outside counsel for the European Commission during negotiations for the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, as trade counsel, the group said in a news release. CPA also hired Kenneth Rapoza, previously a journalist, as an industry analyst, it said.
Retired trade attorney Terry Stewart blogged about the eight candidates under consideration for the World Trade Organization director-general position in a post published July 19. He summarized the press conferences held to feature each one in Geneva.
Jon Perdue is the new executive director of CBP’s Office of Trade Relations, Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan said during the June 15 meeting of the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee. Perdue was previously with the Caribbean and Latin America desk of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Valarie Neuhart, previously acting executive director, will continue to be deputy executive director at the Office of Trade Relations, a CBP spokesperson said.
New appointees were named to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee and six Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees by the secretary of agriculture and the U.S. trade representative. The 25 appointees will serve until 2024.
Holland & Knight hired Francisco Sanchez, previously CEO of CNS Global Advisors, to co-chair the firm's International Trade Practice, it said in a news release. Sanchez was also undersecretary of commerce in charge of the International Trade Administration, 2010-2013.
Matthew Nicely joined Akin Gump as a partner in its international trade practice, the law firm said by email. Nicely, previously of Hughes Hubbard, is president of the Customs and International Trade Bar Association (see 2006150013).
Dan Mauer, director of government affairs for the Communications Workers of America, was appointed to the Independent Mexico Labor Expert Board, which will monitor Mexico's implementation of the labor standards established in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. His union is interested in the outsourcing of call centers. The Senate and House majority and minority leaders are allowed to each appoint two members to the board (see 2006120023), and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's Labor Advisory Committee is allowed to select four, of whom Mauer is one. Members serve six-year terms.
Jason Kearns is the new chairman of the International Trade Commission, the ITC said June 17. Kearns takes over from Commissioner David Johanson, whose term as chairman ended June 16, 2020. Randolph Stayin is now vice chairman, the ITC said in another June 17 news release.