Grant Harris Sworn in as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2022
Contact: Office of Public Affairs
publicaffairs@trade.gov
WASHINGTON—Today, Grant Harris was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis for the International Trade Administration (ITA). Appointed by President Joseph R. Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 7, 2022, Harris will play a critical role in creating strategies and designing policies that help U.S. firms compete in a global marketplace.
In this position, Harris will oversee a team of more than 225 industry, trade, and economic professionals that provide analytical expertise on a variety of U.S. sectors, ranging from digital services to advanced manufacturing, to travel and tourism. The work of ITA’s Industry & Analysis office plays a vital role in policy related to global supply chains, semiconductors, strategically important technologies, digital trade, and combating unfair trade barriers. The office serves as a leading U.S. Government advocate to advance the competitiveness and exports of U.S. manufacturing and service industries in the global market.
“There has never been a more important time for U.S. industries to reflect, rebuild, and reimagine as we engage with international markets. Grant Harris offers more than two decades of public and private sector leadership to an organization that produces the world’s most in-depth and highly-sought after trade analysis and strategy,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “He is the right person we need at this important moment; I welcome him to the Commerce team.”
Harris previously served as CEO of Connect Frontier LLC, where he advised companies and organizations on strategy, policy, and mitigating risk with respect to doing business in emerging and frontier markets. Harris also taught business in emerging markets at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
Harris served in the Obama administration as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the White House. In this role, Harris conceived of the historic U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, which generated $37 billion in new commitments to support trade, investment, and development across Africa. He also served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, where his portfolio included East Asia.
“It is a privilege to be joining the Commerce Department at such an important time,” said Assistant Secretary Harris. “I am eager to work with the Industry & Analysis team to support the international competitiveness of U.S. industries and to advance American business, workers, jobs, and economic security.”
Other positions in Harris’ career include as attorney for the law firm of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, on the National Security Council staff at the White House under President Bill Clinton, and in the U.S. Mission to the United Nations under Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. Harris holds a law degree from Yale Law School, a Master’s in Public Affairs, with Distinction, from Princeton University, and a B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of California, Berkeley.
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