Siuzen Shvab
USABiography of Susan Schwab
Susan Schwab, born on March 23, 1955, is an American trade representative who has had an extensive career in various roles related to trade and policy.
Early Life and Education
Schwab grew up in various countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia due to her parents' involvement in diplomatic service. She earned a bachelor's degree in political economy from Williams College, a master's degree in development policy from Stanford University, and a doctorate in public administration and international trade from George Washington University.
Career
Schwab began her career in 1977 as a trade representative, working on agricultural issues. She then served as a staff member of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, handling trade policy matters. In 1981, she joined the office of Senator John Danforth, initially as a trade specialist and later as the head of the legislative department. Schwab played a key role in the development of various initiatives, including the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984 and the Competition and Trade Act of 1988, which expanded the authority of the U.S. Department of Commerce in import control.
From 1989 to 1993, Schwab held positions as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director-General of the U.S. Commercial Service in the administration of President George H. W. Bush. In 1993, Schwab became the Director of Corporate Development at Motorola and successfully led several operations in China and the Asia-Pacific region. She also authored the book "Takeover for Takeover: Negotiations on the Comprehensive Trade Act" in 1994, which discussed American trade policy and legislation.
In 1995, Schwab became the Dean of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, and in 2004, she was appointed as the President and Chair of the Board of the University System of Maryland.
Trade Representative
In November 2005, Schwab was appointed Deputy U.S. Trade Representative in the administration of President George W. Bush. As the U.S. Trade Representative, she was responsible for signing trade agreements with third countries and overseeing activities within the World Trade Organization (WTO). Schwab focused on various areas of U.S. trade policy and maintained contact with countries in the post-Soviet space, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South America. Her responsibilities included preparing the U.S. Trade Representative's work on WTO-related issues, intellectual property, industrial development, intergovernmental relations, and public affairs.
In April 2006, Schwab was nominated by President Bush to become the U.S. Trade Representative, and in June 2006, her nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
