The chief trade counsel for the Democratic majority on the Senate Finance Committee, and Joe Biden's former head of economic and domestic policy when he was vice president have been nominated as deputy U.S. trade representatives. Sarah Bianchi, who works at Evercore ISI, and senate staffer Jayme White were named by the White House on April 16. Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., White's boss, called both “top-notch” choices, adding, “I am excited to see these nominations move forward as soon as possible.”
Rufus Yerxa, the leader of the National Foreign Trade Council, will be retiring in September, he told us. Yerxa, who will be 70 at the time of his exit, does plan to continue consulting or do other part-time work. He said he expects the NFTC board to have selected a replacement by its July meeting.
Former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is listed as one of many advisers to the Advancing American Freedom issue advocacy group. The group is led by former Vice President Mike Pence. The group is arguing on behalf of pro-life policies, including the right of medical workers to avoid abortion-related care; taxpayer subsidies for private and religious schools through locally run programs or tax-advantaged savings plans; finishing the border wall; arguing against returning to the Iran nuclear deal; and pushing for other trade deals like USMCA.
Bloomberg News is reporting that Sarah Bianchi, a senior managing director at Evercore ISI International, is being considered for deputy U.S. trade representative, according to anonymous sources. Bianchi, who once served as director of policy for Vice President Joe Biden, is still being vetted, the sources said. The story did not say which deputy job Bianchi would be put in, but a commissioner for the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission tweeted that she would be in charge of China.
Former World Trade Organization Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff will join the Peterson Institute for International Economics as a distinguished visiting fellow April 15. “Alan Wolff is one of the world's greatest practitioners of international trade law, applying his expertise and broad vision in private and public service to building the case for a strong, open rules-based multilateral trading system,” PIIE President Adam Posen said April 1. “Alan has been a long-time advisor to and constructive critic of the Institute's research and policy proposals in international trade, and we look forward to having him be part of our collegial give-and-take starting later this month.” Wolff will focus on WTO reforms, China's role in trade and how countries can become more prosperous through trading, Posen said.
Baker McKenzie has promoted partner Sunny Mann to global chair of the firm's International Commercial & Trade Practice Group, effective July 1, it announced in a March 23 press release. Mann, currently in the firm's London office, has been with Baker McKenzie for 21 years and has worked on a host of international trade issues, including compliance with sanctions, export controls and foreign investment rules.
Tyler McGaughey, former Treasury Department deputy assistant secretary for investment security, is joining Winston & Strawn's Washington office, the firm announced March 18. McGaughey will advise clients on Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. matters.
Daniel Ikenson, who spent 20 years at Cato Institute advocating for free trade, has joined research firm ndp analytics as director of policy research.
Nate Bolin joined DLA Piper's Litigation and Regulatory practice as a partner in its Washington, D.C., office, the firm announced March 8. Bolin, who comes to the firm from Faegre Drinker, previously served as an international trade specialist at the International Trade Administration. He was recently reappointed to the Defense Trade Advisory Group for the 2020-2022 session. Bolin brings experience of advising clients on U.S. trade remedies, export controls, economic sanctions and Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. matters.
Joseph Barloon, former Office the U.S. Trade Representative official, has rejoined Skadden Arps as a partner in the firm's Washington, D.C., office, the law firm announced in a March 1 news release. Barloon served as general counsel from 2019 to 2020 and then as acting deputy USTR from 2020 to 2021, overseeing litigation against the U.S.'s largest trading partners and implementation of the USMCA. Barloon was nominated to be a judge at the Court of International Trade by President Donald Trump but wasn't confirmed (see 2102050032).