Jones Day hired Edgar Asebey, previously with Roetzel & Andress, as a partner in the Miami office, the law firm said (here). Asebey, who will be in the firm's Life Sciences and Health Care practices, is a "leading authority on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and has lectured in forums in Latin America, Japan, and the U.S. on FSMA's impact on U.S. importers, non-U.S. food exporters, and food companies," it said.

The Progressive Policy Institute added Ed Gerwin, president of Trade Guru LLC, as senior fellow-trade and global opportunity, Gerwin said (here).

Jones Day hired Laura Fraedrich, previously with Kirkland & Ellis, as a partner in the law firm's Washington office, Jones Day said (here).

Bass, Berry opened an international trade practice group with the law firm's Washington office, the firm said (here). Thad McBride, previously with Sheppard Mullin, will lead the group. Bass, Berry also hired Richard Arnholt, previously with Crowell & Moring, for the new practice.

FDAImports.com hired Richard Chiang, previously compliance supervisor for the Import Operations Branch of the Food and Drug Administration's Los Angeles office, as a senior regulatory adviser, said the consulting firm (here). Chiang will be located in the company's California office, it said.

The American Apparel and Footwear Association hired Catherine Trinh Michael as vice president of Communications and Marketing, the association said (here).

Sandler Travis hired four lawyers from Rode & Qualey, said Sandler Travis in a press release (here). Michael O'Rourke, William Maloney and Brian Burke were hired as members in Sandler Travis' New York office and Patrick Gill joined as Of Counsel.

The Export-Import Bank announced on Jan. 6 the membership for its 2015 Advisory Committee (here). Of the 17 members appointed to the committee, two experts represent the trade sector and one represents the textile sector. Advisors for trade issues are Caroline Feund, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economic, Matthew Slaughter, Dartmouth College associate dean. John Morrison White, president of South Carolina-based Morrison Textile Machinery Company, will represent the textile sector. The other 14 members represent labor, small business, finance, manufacturing, small business, environment, services and commerce. The charter for the credit agency runs its course in June (see 1411120006). Many Democrats are pushing for the bank’s long-term renewal, while Republicans leaders, particularly in the House, have called on Congress to allow it's expiration.

Kathleen Cannon, previously the chair of Kelley Drye's International Trade and Customs practice, was named managing partner for the Washington office, the law firm said (here). Eric McClafferty, partner at the firm, will succeed Cannon as chair of the practice.

The Footwear Distributors and Retailer of America added Sue Myrick, a Republican member of Congress from North Carolina from 1995 to 2013, as a policy strategist, the association said in a press release (here). “I believe we have a moral obligation to eliminate tariffs on footwear because they are a direct hit on the pocketbooks of lower-income and middle class families – people who can least afford it," she said. "And as a former businessperson myself, I see it as an innovation tax which prevents companies from growing and creating new and higher-quality footwear. 2015 presents our best chance in a decade to pass meaningful trade legislation to eliminate these outdated tariffs. We will not miss any opportunity to tell the industry’s story with House and Senate leaders.” The group also hired Thomas Crockett, previously legislative counsel for Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., as director of government and regulatory affairs.