Hun Quach, a former vice president for international trade for the Retail Industry Leaders Association and a former government relations professional for Under Armour, announced she is going to be the lead government relations advocate for Levi Strauss & Co. in Washington.

Clark Packard, who had been trade policy counsel at the R Street Institute, is joining the Cato Institute's Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, he tweeted March 14. Cato advocates policies based on libertarian principles.

Andrea Durkin, a former director for Central America in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during the George W. Bush administration, announced that she has returned to the office to be assistant USTR for the World Trade Organization and multilateral affairs.

Rina Pal-Goetzen, a former Commerce Department official, joined the Semiconductor Industry Association as director of global policy, SIA announced March 7. Pal-Goetzen will work with policymakers in the U.S. and abroad, as well as industry, to “advance the association’s international trade policy agenda,” SIA said. Pal-Goetzen previously worked on trade policy at Commerce and served as general counsel for 3D printed microTEC, a California-based 3D printing company.

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.

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.”

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.

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.