ON THE RECORD

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"US Trade Policy: An Overview"

A Conversation with US Trade Representative Susan Schwab.

Ambassador Susan Schwab is a professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy in College Park, Maryland.

She previously served as dean of the School and headed the University System of Maryland Foundation before joining the Bush administration in 2006 as US Trade Representative (USTR).

As USTR, she served as a member of the President's Cabinet and acted as the President's principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on global trade issues. 

During her tenure, Ambassador Schwab successfully concluded bilateral FTAs with Peru, Colombia, Panama and South Korea, while several agreements she negotiated were ratified by the US Congress (Bahrain, Oman and Peru) or entered into force (CAFTA), while three FTAs she negotiated with Colombia, Panama and South Korea currently await Congressional approval.

In her trade enforcement role, she settled a two-decade long dispute with Canada over soft-wood lumber, and has worked to resolve trade disputes related to market access, intellectual property and illegal subsidies with China, the European Union and others.

Ambassador Schwab is credited with negotiating complex investment agreements with Uruguay and Rwanda, while launching bilateral trade negotiations with China, India and Vietnam and also served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the US & Foreign Commercial Service during the Administration of George H.W. Bush.

A graduate of Williams College, she holds a Masters degree in Development Policy from Stanford University and a doctorate in Public Administration and International Business from George Washington University.