Former U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab will give a virtual talk to NDSU at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 25, as part of the Menard Family Distinguished Speaker Series hosted by the Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth.
The event, titled “Trade Talks and Trailblazing: Lessons from a Former U.S. Trade Representative,” is free and open to the public, though attendees must register on Zoom.
Schwab will engage in a moderated discussion with Menard Family Director John Bitzan on the benefits of trade, her experience as a woman pioneer, negotiating regional trade agreements and broader U.S. and international trade issues. Following the presentation, Schwab will answer questions from the audience.
Schwab served as U.S. Trade Representative from 2006 to 2009 during the administration of George W. Bush. She was a member of the President’s cabinet and served as the principal trade adviser, negotiator and spokesperson on U.S. trade issues. During her tenure, Schwab successfully concluded free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, Panama and South Korea; she launched the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks; and she represented the U.S. in the Doha Round multilateral trade negotiations with major economic powers such as the European Union, China, India, Brazil and Indonesia.
Schwab currently is a strategic adviser to the global law firm Mayer Brown and professor at the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. She sits on the board of directors for FedEx Corp. and Caterpillar Inc.
“We are all affected by trade on a daily basis, but it’s not often we get the opportunity to talk with someone who has been in the trenches negotiating trade agreements around the world. Susan Schwab brings insights from more than three decades of international trade and policy experience. We are delighted to have her speaking with our students and community," said Bitzan.
The Menard Family Distinguished Speaker Series invites world thought leaders to share their ideas with the NDSU community on questions that explore ways to improve the human condition and create economic opportunity.
The Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth aims to advance understanding in the areas of innovation, trade and institutions to identify policies and solutions that enhance economic growth and opportunity.
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