The Honorable Charlene Barshefsky United States Trade Representative

Charlene Barshefsky was sworn in as the 12th United States Trade Representative (USTR) on March 17, 1997. Ambassador Barshefsky previously served as Acting U.S. Trade Representative from April 1996 to March 1997 and as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative from May 1993 to April 1996.

President Clinton said of her record and accomplishments, she "has been a brilliant negotiator for our country." As a member of President Clinton's Cabinet, she is the Administration's principal trade policy advisor and negotiator. Her market opening policies and resulting trade agreements have contributed significantly to U.S. economic expansion as U.S. exports have increased more than 50% in the last five years, fueling more than a third of U. S. domestic economic growth. During her tenure at USTR she has been instrumental in achieving over 260 trade agreements, covering key industrial sectors, services, agriculture and the protection of intellectual property rights worldwide.

Ambassador Barshefsky has demonstrated a substantial record of accomplishments in enhancing U.S. export opportunities for the benefit of U.S. workers and farmers and enforcing U.S. rights in the global economy through the application of U.S. trade laws and international agreements. During her first year as U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Barshefsky concluded three significant global market opening agreements: the Information Technology Agreement (expanding trade on information technology exports), the Global Telecommunications Agreement, and the Global Financial Services agreement.

To successfully execute the President's global trade vision, Ambassador Barshefsky is advancing multi-dimensional regional agendas throughout the world. Under her leadership, comprehensive negotiations were launched to create the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), which will be the largest free trade zone in the world by 2005. She also has given vitality to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) which has launched an initiative to open world markets across 15 sectors totaling $1.5 trillion in global trade. The U.S.-E.U. Transatlantic Partnership is aimed at further market access and addressing a myriad of trade issues. She is a leading architect of the Clinton Administration's Africa Trade Initiative which is designed to expand trade and increase investment in this important region, and has been instrumental in increasing trade in the Middle East.

Ambassador Barshefsky also has focused on U.S. trade policy interests in China and Japan particularly toward achieving market access goals. She had been instrumental in negotiating 35 trade agreements with Japan and 15 trade agreements with China, including the 1995 and 1996 U.S. - China Intellectual Property Rights agreements.

Prior to being appointed Deputy USTR, Ambassador Barshefsky was a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Steptoe & Johnson. She specialized in international trade law and policy for 18 years and co-chaired the firm's substantial International Practice Group.

Ambassador Barshefsky graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1972 and, in 1975, from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., earning numerous academic honors at both institutions. Ambassador Barshefsky repeatedly has been recognized for her extensive work on behalf of the United States, its industries and its workers and has received numerous awards. Ambassador Barshefsky is married to Edward B. Cohen and resides in Washington, D.C. with their two daughters.

For More Information:
http://www.ustr.gov/