USTR Tai Appoints Jamila Thompson as New Chief of Staff

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has appointed Jamila Thompson as her new chief of staff, the office announced on September 12, 2024. This appointment comes at a crucial time for the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which has experienced several key departures in recent months.

Thompson, who has been serving in an acting capacity since January 2024, brings over two decades of management experience from her time in Congress. Prior to joining the USTR, she served as chief of staff to the late U.S. Representative John Lewis of Georgia, a prominent civil rights leader and long-serving congressman.

The appointment is significant as the USTR, created in 1962 as part of the Executive Office of the President, faces ongoing challenges in international trade negotiations. In November 2023, the office was unable to secure a limited trade agreement with Indo-Pacific countries, a region that accounts for approximately 60% of the world's GDP. However, negotiations continue for a trade and investment partnership agreement with Kenya, the United States' 98th largest goods trading partner.

Tai, who is the 19th United States Trade Representative, emphasized Thompson's experience and their shared history:

"From our time together in Congress until now, Jamila has been the epitome of wise counsel, sound judgment, and invaluable compassion. Jamila's wealth of experience, including as a senior staff member to the late Congressman John Lewis, will help anchor our work in the principles of fairness and equity for all."

This appointment comes as the USTR works to maintain a robust trade agenda during the final months of President Joe Biden's term. Thompson's role will be crucial in filling the voids left by recent departures, including her predecessor Heather Hurlburt, Deputy USTR Sarah Bianchi, who managed Asian trade affairs, and Deputy USTR Jayme White, who oversaw European and Western Hemisphere trade matters.

The relationship between Thompson and Tai dates back to their time working together in Congress. Tai served as chief trade counsel to the House Ways and Means Committee, the oldest committee of the United States Congress, which focuses on tax and trade issues. During this period, Tai collaborated with the offices of Lewis and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, founded in 1971, to renegotiate key labor-focused changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Their joint efforts culminated in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced NAFTA on July 1, 2020. Lewis' support for the USMCA was considered instrumental in its ratification by Congress, highlighting the importance of collaboration between trade officials and legislative bodies.

As chief of staff, Thompson will play a vital role in managing the day-to-day operations of the USTR, which is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade policy. This appointment underscores the ongoing importance of trade negotiations, as evidenced by Tai's recent meeting with her counterpart in Britain's new government, Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds, in London on September 11, 2024.