Portman Names Co-Chairs of New China Trade Enforcement Task Force

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Rob Portman named Stephen Kho and Terry McCartin as the co-chairs of the USTR's new China Trade Enforcement Task Force March 28.

The task force will be undertaking a "top-to-bottom review" of U.S.-China trade policy as promised by Portman earlier this year, according to the USTR.  (See related article.)

Kho now serves as the acting chief counsel for China enforcement, and McCartin is the deputy assistant U.S. trade representative for China enforcement.

"China is now a mature trading partner, and must live up to its obligations, particularly in the areas of market access and intellectual property rights enforcement," Portman said.

Portman said Kho, McCartin and their "top notch" teams would strengthen the ability to enforce China's international and bilateral trade obligations.  He said both men are experienced in World Trade Organization (WTO) litigation and U.S.-China trade negotiations.

For more information on U.S. policies, see The United States and China and Trade and Economics.


Following is the text of the USTR announcement

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C.

USTR Press Releases are available on the USTR website at www.ustr.gov.

For Immediate Release:
March 28, 2006
Contact:
Christin Baker / Neena Moorjani
(202) 395-3230

USTR Portman Announces Co-Chairs of China Trade Enforcement Task Force

WASHINGTON - United States Trade Representative Rob Portman today announced the co-chairs of a China Enforcement Task Force within USTR.

The establishment of the task force follows through on a commitment made in the top-to-bottom review of U.S.-China trade policy unveiled by Ambassador Portman on February 14, 2006.

The task force will be co-chaired by Stephen Kho, who is serving as the Acting Chief Counsel for China Enforcement, and Terry McCartin, now the Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for China Enforcement.  They are joined on the task force by veteran USTR staffers specializing in intellectual property rights, industrial policies, agriculture, services, investment, WTO affairs and textiles, among others.

"China is now a mature trading partner, and must live up to its obligations, particularly in the areas of market access and intellectual property rights enforcement," Portman said.  "We are ready to use all of the tools available to us to achieve our objectives.  That is why we are putting together a top notch team to strengthen our ability to enforce China's international and bilateral trade obligations."

"Steve and Terry bring a wealth of proven experience in WTO litigation and U.S.-China trade negotiations, and I am pleased that they will be leading the new task force," said Ambassador Portman. 

Stephen Kho - Acting Chief Counsel for China Enforcement

Pending final selection of a Chief Counsel for China Enforcement, Mr. Kho will be responsible for co-chairing the new China Enforcement Task Force.

For the past year, Mr. Kho has served as the principal attorney on China trade matters in the General Counsel's Office at USTR.  Previously, he worked for three years as a legal advisor in USTR's mission in Geneva, Switzerland, where he handled dozens of WTO disputes on behalf of the United States. 

Mr. Kho is a graduate of the University of Virginia and received a law degree from the University of Maryland and a masters degree in international legal studies from Georgetown University.

Mr. Kho speaks Mandarin Chinese.

Terry McCartin - Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for China Enforcement

Mr. McCartin will be responsible for co-chairing the new China Enforcement Task Force.

Mr. McCartin joined USTR's Office of China Affairs in 2001, shortly before China acceded to the WTO.  He has served as the Senior Director of Monitoring and Enforcement for China, chairing an interagency committee charged with monitoring China's efforts to implement its WTO commitments while also overseeing U.S. participation in annual reviews of China at the WTO.  He was part of the USTR team that brought and then successfully settled the first WTO case against China in 2004. Previously, he worked in the General Counsel's Office at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he was a member of the U.S. team negotiating the terms of China's accession to the WTO.  He also represented the United States in three WTO disputes.

Mr. McCartin graduated from Stanford University and received a law degree from Georgetown University.