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).

The U.S. named six panelists for the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism, for the enforcement of USMCA labor protections:

The U.S. Trade Representative announced the appointment of USMCA state-to-state dispute panelists July 1:

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.

Matthew Nicely, a Hughes Hubbard lawyer, is the new president of the Customs and International Trade Bar Association. Michele Lynch, with the Commerce Department, succeeds him as vice president. Emily Beline, a senior counsel for international regulatory affairs with FedEx, is now secretary; and Alice Kipel, executive director of regulations and rulings in the CBP Office of Trade, is the group’s new treasurer. CITBA held its annual meeting May 27, “by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic,” it said.

The acting assistant U.S. trade representative for Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy has been given the permanent position, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced June 12. Julie Callahan, who had two previous positions in agricultural affairs at USTR, previously was at FDA, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and the American Chemical Society. Callahan has a doctorate in marine chemistry.

Joshua Holzer, previously chief counsel for global trade at Pfizer, joined the StoneTurn advisory firm, StoneTurn said in a news release. The company said Holzer “offers a unique, practical understanding of economic sanctions,” export controls and import matters.

A former AFL-CIO attorney has joined the House Ways and Means Committee trade staff to help oversee the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., announced May 18. “Critical to the USMCA’s success is its proper implementation, particularly of its rigorous general and labor enforcement mechanisms,” he said. “I am delighted to welcome Ms. [Kelly Marie] Fay Rodríguez to the Ways and Means Committee trade staff. Her legal background and experience organizing and engaging with workers and the labor community in the United States and overseas make her a valuable complement to our existing team of talented professionals.”

Jamieson Greer, chief of staff at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative from May 2017, is joining King & Spalding as a partner in its international trade practice. The law firm said that Greer was involved in negotiations for the phase one deal with China and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. “He also played a key role for USTR in the legislative reform of U.S. foreign investment reviews and implementation of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act by [the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.],” the firm said. Last year, King & Spalding hired Steven Vaughn, the general counsel at USTR.