USTR appoints Katherine White as Chief Textiles & Apparel Negotiator

“Strengthening America’s textile industry is a key priority for USTR,” United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in a press release. “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to crafting trade policy that supports industry revitalisation and resilience. White is a skilled and strategic trade negotiator, and I look forward to continuing this work with her as we fight for a better deal for America’s textile manufacturers.”

USTR's Office of Textiles is responsible for international trade negotiations affecting textile and apparel products, at the multilateral, regional and bilateral levels, with a particular emphasis on opening foreign markets to US domestic producers.

In her previous role, White provided guidance on trade policy matters to Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) and other Democratic members, significantly shaping US trade laws. Her contributions were pivotal in the negotiation, implementation, and enforcement of key trade agreements, such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). She also engaged extensively with the textile and apparel industry in crafting trade legislation.

Before her tenure at the House Ways and Means Committee, White began her public service career through the Presidential Management Fellowship at the International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce. She also served at the National Economic Council at the White House and contributed to several think tanks in Washington, DC.

Katherine White is a graduate of Duke University, where she earned a Master of Public Policy. She also holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and International Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) president and CEO Kim Glas welcomed the appointment of White. She said, “Katherine White is an excellent choice for the critical position of Chief Textiles and Apparel Negotiator. We are also grateful to US Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai for elevating this position back to a political appointee role, which is historically how it has been designated. Given the prominence of both the agency and her political appointment, we know she will play a highly instrumental role in shaping policy impacting our industry. She is a fantastic choice.”

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)