Over three days, speakers will help attendees increase their professional knowledge by learning the nuts and bolts of trade policy directly from career trade policy professionals from across government, industry, and law.

Each part will highlight a different aspect of U.S. and international trade law and policy.

Friday, October 3, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (US/Eastern)

Monday, October 6, 9:00 AM – 12:15 PM (US/Eastern)

Tuesday, October 7, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (US/Eastern)

Summer Early Bird Prices and Registration:

Individual bundles available: $50-100/part (Must be a WITA Member)

For group rates (3 or more ticket purchases), email Diego Anez (danez@wita.org) to receive a special rate.

To get WITA member pricing, click here.

2025 Topics

2025 Confirmed Speakers

Patrick T. Childress, Partner, Holland & Knight; former Assistant General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Paul H. DeLaney, III, Vice President, Head of Government Relations, SK Americas; former International Trade Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance; former Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Iana Dreyer, Founder and Editor, Borderlex

Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy, Hinrich Foundation, former Founder and Executive Director, Asian Trade Centre

Everett Eissenstat, Partner, Public Policy Practice Group, Squire Patton Boggs; former Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director, National Economic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Americas, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Shannon Fura, Founding Partner, Page Fura, P.C.; Immediate Past Chair of the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones
Nasim Fussell, Senior Vice President, Lot Sixteen; former Chief International Trade Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance

Kate Kalutkiewicz, Senior Managing Director, McLarty Associates; former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Trade, National Economic Council; former Director for European Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Timothy Keeler, Partner, Co-Leader of International Trade, Mayer Brown; former Chief of Staff, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; former Deputy to the Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Legislative Affairs

Ryan Majerus, Partner, King & Spalding; former Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration

Greta M. Peisch, Partner, Wiley Rein LLP; former General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; former International Trade Counsel, Senate Finance Committee

John Pickel, Vice President, International Supply Chain Policy, NFTC; former Principal Director, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and former Trade Counselor, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Ted Posner, Head of National Security and Trade Risk Mitigation, Baker Botts; former Assistant General Counsel, U.S. Department of the Treasury

Felicia Pullam, Senior Director, Geo-Commerce, APCO; former Executive Director, Office of Trade Relations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Kelly Ann Shaw, Partner, Akin; former Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director, National Economic Council; former Assistant General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Partner, WilmerHale; former Chair and Commissioner, U.S. International Trade Commission

Kevin Wolf, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security

Speaker Biographies

Patrick T. Childress is an international trade and disputes attorney in Holland & Knight’s Washington, D.C., office.

Mr. Childress focuses on international trade policy and high-stakes international disputes. He advises corporations, governments and other stakeholders around the world on issues related to the evolving tariff landscape, trade-related enforcement actions, government investigations and treaty negotiations. Mr. Childress draws on his extensive experience in this area as a co-leader of Holland & Knight’s USMCA Team assisting clients in connection with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and its upcoming renegotiation. He also represents corporate and sovereign clients in commercial and investment treaty arbitration proceedings.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Childress represented the United States in trade-related matters during both Trump Administrations and the Biden Administration as an attorney at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). During his time in government, Mr. Childress advised senior administration officials, led U.S. government delegations negotiating with foreign trading partners and worked with corporate stakeholders across an array of industries on trade-related issues. Mr. Childress handled a broad portfolio of trade law and policy issues, including foreign investment, digital trade, climate and environment, and trade in automotives. He also served as USTR’s lead attorney for regional matters involving Canada, Mexico and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Mr. Childress also has deep experience in international arbitration. He has represented corporate clients and sovereign governments in investor-state and commercial arbitrations around the world. Six of these arbitrations involved claims in excess of $1 billion.

Mr. Childress’ commentary on international trade law and policy has been quoted in leading publications such as CNN Business, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, ABC News and other outlets. He also has authored book chapters and journal articles, taught classes to foreign government officials at the International Law Institute, and spoken at Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, the American Society of International Law and other venues.

Before his time as a government official, Mr. Childress was an attorney at large global law firms in New York and Washington, D.C.

Paul H. DeLaney, III is Vice President, Head of Government Relations at SK Americas. As Head of Government Relations at SK Americas, Paul leads a talented government relations, public affairs, and industry strategy team that supports SK’s semiconductor and advanced materials, energy and battery, digital technology, and life sciences operations, workforce, and investments across the United States. The team advocates on U.S. federal, state and local government policy issues impacting SK’s U.S. operations and workforce, international business, and supply chains.

Paul specializes in international trade, investment, tax, supply chain, regulatory and customs advocacy and policy development. Paul has worked extensively with Executive branch agencies across four Administrations, the U.S. Congress, foreign governments, business associations, think tanks, and a wide range of companies.

Prior to joining SK Americas, Paul was a Partner at the Kyle House Group and led the firm’s international commercial policy, advocacy, counseling and dispute resolution efforts. Prior to that, Paul was Vice President for Trade and International at the Business Roundtable (BRT) where he led BRT international policy efforts through Trade and International CEO Committee and with the company representatives of the Trade and International Coordinating Committee. He partnered with BRT leadership and Trade and International CEO Committee Chair to set strategy and engage BRT CEO Members on policy priorities and advocacy. He also served as International Trade Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance where he assisted with Finance Committee hearings and legislative markups, drafted trade legislation and amendments, briefed Senators and staff, consulted with the Administration and the trade agencies, and met with stakeholders and foreign governments. Paul assisted in managing the Senate floor during the consideration of seven trade bills.

Prior to his Senate service, Paul served as a Senior Attorney for Trade and International Affairs at FedEx Express and advocated on trade policy and international regulatory issues before the U.S. and foreign governments, as well as with industry and trade associations. Paul also served as Deputy Chief of Staff to both U.S Trade Representative Rob Portman and Susan Schwab where he was integrally involved in strategic planning, agency operations and decision-making with senior political and career staff. Paul was the Office point of contact for the White House Staff Secretary, National Security Council, and National Economic Council staff to coordinate interagency actions.

Iana Dreyer is the founder and editor of Borderlex. She launched Borderlex in 2014 and remains its driving force. Iana has deep international trade policy expertise spanning over fifteen years.

Iana steers Borderlex’s editorial activities and particularly likes to write about the politics shaping EU trade policy, systemic issues at the World Trade Organization, international trade disputes, the nexus between security and trade and EU-Asian trade relations.

Before launching her publishing activity in London, Iana worked as policy analyst in think tanks with a focus on international trade and international energy policy, consulting on occasion for governments. Iana has worked with the European Centre for International Political Economy, the Institute Montaigne and the EU Institute for Security Studies. Iana has also worked for the Financial Times group and trained in journalism. Iana has post-graduate degrees from the London School of Economics and Sciences Po in Paris.

Dr. Deborah Elms is Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation in Singapore. Prior to joining the Foundation, she was the Executive Director and Founder of the Asian Trade Centre (ATC). She was also President of the Asia Business Trade Association (ABTA) and the Board Director of the Asian Trade Centre Foundation (ATCF).

Dr. Elms serves on the board of the Trade and Investment Negotiation Adviser (TINA) at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (UNESCAP). She was on the International Advisory Council for APCO (2021-2023) and was a member of the International Technical Advisory Committee of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance and Chair of the Working Group on Trade Policy and Law. She was also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Trade and Investment Council for 2018-2020.

Prior to founding ATC/ATCF and the ABTA, she was head of the Temasek Foundation Centre for Trade & Negotiations (TFCTN) and Senior fellow of International Political Economy at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Dr. Elms received a PhD in political science from the University of Washington, an MA in International Relations from the University of Southern California, and bachelor’s degrees from Boston University.

She is the author of numerous articles, editor of several books, and regularly published the Talking Trade Blog. Dr. Elms also routinely appears on television and in major newspapers and magazines around the world to comment on trade and economic issues. Dr. Elms also makes frequent appearances at a range of global trade and economic workshops, conferences, capacity building sessions, and negotiations.

Everett Eissenstat is a partner in the Public Policy Practice Group. Everett is one of the nation’s foremost global trade experts having served in senior positions in Congress, the Office of the US Trade Representative, the White House and a Fortune 50 company. He helps clients manage and mitigate geopolitical risk, influence international economic policy-making, and develop and execute successful international trade and investment strategies.

During a distinguished government career spanning over two decades, Everett served as deputy assistant to the president for international economic affairs and deputy director of the National Economic Council. Reporting to the president, the national security advisor and the director of the National Economic Council, he coordinated interagency policy development and implementation on international economic policy matters. He served as the president’s personal representative and principal negotiator to the G7, G20 and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economic summits and led interagency preparations for all international summits.

Previously, Everett held key roles in the US House, Senate and the Office of the US Trade Representative. As the chief international trade counsel to the chairman of the US Senate Finance Committee (2011-2017 (under Sen. Orrin Hatch) and 2001-2006 (under Sen. Chuck Grassley)), Everett built and led professional international trade policy teams for two chairmen. He advised the chairmen on all international trade matters before the committee and coordinated the international trade work of the Finance Committee Republicans. His legislative responsibilities included Trade Promotion Authority, US Customs authorization, implementation of free trade agreements, preferential trade arrangements and sanctions policy. He was also responsible for the oversight of US government international trade agencies and international trade negotiations.

During his tenure as chief international trade counsel, Everett negotiated and helped gain congressional approval of the Trade Act of 2002 and the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015. He also gained approval of legislation implementing bilateral trade agreements with Australia, Chile, Colombia, Jordan, Morocco, Korea, Panama and Singapore, as well as the Dominican Republic-Central America-US-Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).

As assistant US trade representative for the Americas (2006-2011), Everett led negotiations of comprehensive bilateral free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and Peru, as well as the entry into force of DR-CAFTA, a plurilateral trade agreement with Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, he led negotiation of the US-Brazil Framework Agreement, the US-Canada Government Procurement Agreement and the US-Uruguay Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.

Everett also served as legislative director for Rep. Jim Kolbe, where he advised the congressman on international trade matters, appropriations and foreign affairs. He also served as special assistant in the Office of the Western Hemisphere at the Office of the USTR. Everett also served as a member of the 2000 Presidential Transition Team for the Office of the US Trade Representative, the US Department of Commerce Office of Import Administration and the International Trade Commission.

Everett most recently served as chair of North America and global trade lead at a boutique global public relations consultancy firm. He was senior vice president at a multinational automotive manufacturer (2018-2021) reporting to the CEO and managing over 100 public policy professionals worldwide. He helped navigate a range of challenges, including labor relations, supply chain disruptions and the regulatory and compliance implications of transitioning from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles.

Shannon Fura is a founding partner in the international trade law firm of Page•Fura, P.C. With a background in import/export law, intellectual property and international affairs, Ms. Fura offers clients the diverse background and skillset necessary to exercise compliance and ensure supply chain security in today’s global market.

Ms. Fura brings more than 20 years of experience to her representation of clients in the international arena. Her counseling in the import area includes representing companies before U.S. Customs & Border Protection and other impacted federal agencies in Focused Assessments and other reviews of their import operations. In furtherance to that representation, Ms. Fura works with clients in the establishment, enhancement and monitoring of compliance programs, and provides counsel on a myriad of specific issues including transfer pricing and customs valuation, tariff classification, country of origin determinations and marking requirements, tariff preference program/free trade agreement eligibility, trade relief and remedies, foreign-trade zones and duty drawback, and customs enforcement matters, including civil penalty actions, investigations, seizures and liquidated damages cases. In addition to this work, Ms. Fura also actively represents companies in the area of border/supply chain security including developing and evaluating program qualifications under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism/WCO SAFE Framework.

In the export arena, Ms. Fura brings her extensive knowledge of the intricacies of U.S. export control laws to her representation of companies. Her work in this area extends to representation before the Bureau of Industry & Security, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Bureau of the Census, and includes the development of comprehensive Export Management Systems as well as performing self-assessments of companies’ existing export compliance programs and policies. Besides conducting comprehensive reviews/program development, Ms. Fura also provides advocacy for clients on individual commodity jurisdiction requests, export license applications, Technical Assistance Agreements/Manufacturing License Agreements, and deemed export and re-export controls and compliance. She also, where necessary, counsels clients on the submission of voluntary self disclosures and issues of export enforcement.

Nasim Fussell is a Senior Vice President at Lot Sixteen, where she leads the firm’s trade practice. On Capitol Hill, Nasim served as the Chief International Trade Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee under Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), spearheading the Committee’s work on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and all other trade matters.

She also served as Deputy Chief International Trade Counsel to former Chairman and late Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT). Prior to her work in the Senate, Nasim served as Trade Counsel to the House Ways and Means Committee, where she worked for Chairmen Brady (R-TX), Ryan (R-WI), and Camp (R-MI) to advance trade negotiations with other countries as well as trade legislation, including Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), customs reauthorization, trade preference programs, and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB).

Nasim has also worked in the private sector as a law firm partner, in-house with two multinational companies, and a trade association. She started her career at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Nasim is a member of the board of the Washington International Trade Association (WITA). She holds an LLM in International & Comparative Law from GW Law School, a JD from the University of Baltimore School of Law, and a BA in History from the University of Michigan.

Kate Kalutkiewicz is Senior Managing Director at McLarty Associates, where she leads the McLarty trade practice and contributes to the firm’s Europe practice and McLarty Inbound. Kate has managed complex challenges around global trade, industrial, and investment policy for nearly two decades. Her experience spans roles in government, particularly in Europe and South America, where she honed her skills in negotiating complex international agreements and navigating the nuance around public-private sector interactions. Kate most recently served as Head of US Trade Policy for Amazon, where she advocated a broad range of international trade and economic issues with the US Government, touching several sectors, including retail, creative content production and distribution, cloud services, sustainable fleet, autos, and hardline manufacturing. Prior to that, Kate served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Trade at the National Economic Council, where she developed and led US trade policy initiatives. During her White House tenure, she led interagency teams responsible for the US G7 Presidency and US positions on supply chain resiliency and support for the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before serving in the White House, Kate was the Senior Trade Representative at the US Mission to the European Union from 2016-2020. While in Brussels, she was the USTR’s primary interlocutor with the European Commission and Member State authorities responsible for trade. Before her time in Brussels, Kate held the role of USTR’s Director for European Affairs (2011-2016) and served as Associate Chief Negotiator for the US in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations. She began her career at USTR as its Director for Brazil and the Southern Cone (2007-2011), where she was the principal agency representative for implementing and managing US trade policy in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Prior to USTR, Kate was a legislative assistant in the office of Senator James Talent (R-MO), where she supported the Senator on issues related to trade, foreign policy, homeland security, immigration, and the judiciary.

Timothy Keeler is Partner and Co-Leader of International Trade at Mayer Brown. He joined Mayer Brown after a varied career in the US Government, serving at the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), the US Treasury Department (which chairs CFIUS), and the US Senate Finance Committee.

Timothy also advises and advocates for clients on high-profile International Trade law and policy, including investigations and tariff actions by the USTR under Sec. 301 of the Trade Act of 1974; safeguard investigations and tariff remedies by the International Trade Commission (ITC) and the USTR under Sec. 201 of the Trade Act of 1974; the consistency of various legal regimes – or proposed laws – with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and other international legal obligations; international trade negotiations in the WTO, Free Trade Agreements, and other arrangements; and WTO and other trade agreement litigation.

Timothy was previously the Chief of Staff in the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) from 2006 – 2009, where he oversaw implementation of US policy, strategy and negotiations involving all aspects of international trade and investment matters. He worked on a number of key issues including: climate change and trade; US and China relations; WTO negotiations and litigation; free trade agreement negotiations and implementation; and CFIUS decisions.

Before working for USTR, Timothy spent more than five years at the Treasury Department from 2001 – 2006. He joined the Office of Legislative Affairs in 2001 as a Deputy to the Assistant Secretary for International Issues, where he was responsible for Treasury’s legislative strategy on issues including CFIUS, foreign exchange rate policy testimony, appropriations for US funding of the World Bank, and US participation in the International Monetary Fund. He later managed the Office of Legislative Affairs from 2002 – 2006 and assisted on all policy and personnel issues in the Office. This included leading Treasury nominees through the US Senate confirmation process, and legislative strategy on Treasury Intelligence and Anti-Terrorist Financing matters.

Timothy also served on the Presidential Transition Team in 2000–2001 as a policy coordinator on export control and trade remedy policy, handling the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Export Administration (now called the Bureau of Industry and Security) and the International Trade Commission (ITC). Earlier in his career (1998-2000), Timothy served as a professional staff member for international trade on the US Senate Finance Committee under Chairman William V. Roth (R-DE).

In recognition of his government service, Timothy was awarded the USTR Distinguished Service Award, the Treasury Distinguished Service Award, and the Treasury Secretary’s Honor Award twice.

Timothy is a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington International Trade Association. He was also an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University in both the School of Law—co-teaching a course on US and WTO law, policy, and politics, and the School of Foreign Service.

Ryan Majerus is a Partner in the International Trade Team of King & Spalding. His practice covers trade remedies, trade policy and negotiations, trade agreement enforcement, import compliance, supply chains, and government procurement. He has particular experience in the steel, aluminum, automotive, agricultural, and energy industries. He recently performed the functions of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance at the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration for over a year, serving as the decisionmaker for every AD/CVD duty imposed by the U.S. He also was the Senior Policy Advisor for Supply Chains at the White House National Economic Council under President Joe Biden, where he played a central role in U.S. industrial strategy.

Prior to his 4 years in political roles at Commerce and the White House, Ryan had a decade-long legal career in the federal government, serving as the Senior Counsel for Appellate And Supreme Court Litigation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”); as Assistant General Counsel at the Office of the USTR under the first Trump Administration, where he litigated several disputes before the WTO involving U.S. trade remedies and government subsidies and was a lead on agriculture trade policy. He also was a trial attorney in the Civil Division of the DOJ, where he represented Commerce as lead counsel in dozens of trade remedies cases before the U.S. Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and defended numerous agencies in government contracts and bid protest litigation before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and Federal Circuit.

Greta M. Peisch is a Partner at Wiley Rein. She brings nearly 15 years of experience in international trade matters. Most recently, she served as General Counsel for the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) where she was a primary legal advisor to the agency, including with respect to trade enforcement and trade agreement implementation and negotiations.

While at USTR, Greta led the USTR’s enforcement agenda, including World Trade Organization (WTO) and trade agreement dispute settlement and implementation of Sections 201 and 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Greta negotiated the settlement of significant trade disputes, including a years-long dispute with the European Union regarding large civil aircraft; disputes related to the U.S. imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum and the EU’s retaliatory tariffs; and a dispute with Canada related to a U.S. solar safeguard measure. In addition, she led the implementation of the first-ever reviews and panel request under the novel Rapid Response Labor Mechanism of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. She also oversaw negotiations related to Critical Minerals Agreements with Japan, the EU, and the United Kingdom and advised on legal issues in trade agreement negotiations and implementation, including with respect to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade.

Prior to her time at USTR, Greta was Senior International Trade Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. In this role, she developed policy positions and legislation concerning trade policy, including the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the drafting, passage, and implementation of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act, and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act of 2018.

With additional experience involving digital trade, labor, and the environment, Greta is poised to help clients navigate all aspects of trade’s legal landscape.

John Pickel is Senior Director of International Supply Chain Policy at the National Foreign Trade Council, the leading business association dedicated solely to advancing the interests of U.S. companies in international commerce.

In this role, John sets strategic direction and executes efforts to promote efficient, resilient and stable supply chains. This includes advancing policies related to anticounterfeiting, product safety, environmental sustainability, human and labor rights, and preventing illicit trade. He also promotes the implementation of trade facilitation measures and customs best practices across government agencies and international organizations to increase predictability and enable compliance with U.S. trade laws.

John previously served as the Principal Director of Trade and Economic Competitiveness in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans (Policy), where he was a primary trade and supply chain policy advisor to agency leadership, served as the DHS representative to various interagency groups and processes, and led implementation of trade-related initiatives across DHS components.

Prior to joining DHS Policy, John served in various roles at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over a decade. More recently, he was the Counsellor to the Commissioner for trade facilitation and enforcement matters. In addition to advising CBP executives on trade policy issues, John led engagement with senior administration officials, the trade community, and others to inform the development and implementation of CBP trade priorities. Earlier, John coordinated CBP Congressional Affairs efforts related to trade policy. In this role, he worked closely with Members of Congress and senior staff to shape legislation including the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA) and Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act.

John has represented companies, nonprofit organizations, and cities before Congress and federal agencies at a government relations firm and worked in a leadership office in the U.S. House of Representatives.

John is a graduate of The George Washington University (B.A., Political Science).

Ted Posner serves as the Assistant General Counsel for International Affairs, U.S.Treasury Department, and in this capacity is responsible for the direction of all legal activities of the Department with regard to a broad range of international economic and financial matters, including matters related to global economic stability and U.S. participation in the G-20; international banking and securities matters; national security and foreign investment in United States (CFIUS); trade and investment matters, particularly in the financial services sector; sovereign debt and development issues; U.S. participation in international financial institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank; and climate finance and legislation and other environmental matters.

Prior to the U.S. Treasury Department, Ted worked in the private and public sectors, specializing in international trade and international arbitration. Most recently, he was a partner in the Washington, DC office of law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges (2012-2020). His career before that included law firm Crowell & Moring (2009-2012); the National Security Council (2008-2009); the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (2002-2008); the U.S. Senate Finance Committee (2001-2002); Office of Congressman Sander M. Levin (1999-2001); law firm Howard, Smith & Levin (1998-1999); and law firm Sidley & Austin (1995-1998). Following his graduation from law school in 1994, Ted clerked for Judge Wilfred Feinberg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Ted earned his law degree from Yale Law School (1994), his A.B. from Princeton University’s School of Public & International Affairs (1990), and a Certificate of International Studies from the Institut Universitaire De Hautes Etudes Internationales in Geneva (1991).

Felicia Pullam is a global expert on trade, investment, value chain sustainability and social impact, with more than 20 years of experience working with international companies on these mission critical issues. She brings that experience to her role as Senior Director, Geo-Commerce in APCO’s Washington office, where she leads APCO’s Center for Trade, Investment and Market Access.

Prior to joining APCO, Felicia was the executive director of the Office of Trade Relations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is CBP’s primary point of contact for private sector and stakeholder engagement. As an advisor to the commissioner, Felicia worked on a wide range of trade challenges, including tariffs and trade remedies, forced labor, de minimis reform and illicit trade.

Felicia has worked on bipartisan trade and investment from both the state and federal perspective: she has served in the Office of Delaware Governor Jack Markell, as well as at the Maryland Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Commerce. During the Obama administration, Felicia helped steer SelectUSA, a presidential initiative housed within Commerce, through a high-pressure start-up phase to promote the United States as the leading global destination for foreign direct investment. Felicia was then appointed to be the deputy assistant secretary for textiles, consumer goods and materials, where she managed three offices to analyze and implement trade policy covering a large swath of the global economy.

Outside of government service, Felicia served as the director of strategy at the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly a decade in China, leading the Asia regional corporate responsibility and sustainability practice for APCO, working closely with colleagues across greater China, India, and Southeast Asia. Felicia got her start as a Princeton in Asia Fellow, followed by a yearlong adventure as the tutor and translator for actress Zhang Ziyi. She graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University.

Kelly Ann Shaw is a partner in Akin’s lobbying & public policy practice. She is recognized as one of the world’s leading international trade, global economics and national security advisors.

Her practice focuses on the complex intersection of trade, supply chains and geopolitics. This includes tariff and customs issues, forced labor (UFLPA), national security measures, investment restrictions, World Trade Organization (WTO) litigation, as well as arctic, energy, global financial and industrial policies.

Kelly Ann spent a decade in government service, holding a number of high-profile and influential roles as a senior U.S. negotiator, litigator, diplomat and policy advisor. Most recently, she served as President Trump’s Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs. She was one of the key architects of the administration’s trade, investment, energy and national security policies. Kelly Ann was also the United States’ lead negotiator (Sherpa) for the G7, G20 and APEC, and a key negotiator of the U.S.-China Phase One Deal, among others.

Prior to the White House, she served as Trade Counsel to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee and Assistant General Counsel for USTR in Washington, D.C. and Geneva. Kelly Ann has represented the U.S. in more than 40 WTO disputes and served as a lead negotiator for several major U.S. trade negotiations.

Kelly Ann has been named one of Washington D.C.’s Most Influential People by the Washingtonian Magazine for four consecutive years (2022-2025), a Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 and recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America. She has testified multiple times before the U.S. Congress and has been a frequent media commentator for outlets around the world.

She also serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School, a senior advisor (non-resident) for the Center for Strategic and International Studies and as an appointee by the U.S. to the USMCA Chapter 10 Dispute Settlement Panel Roster.

Rhonda Schmidtlein is a Partner at WilmerHale. A former Chair and Commissioner of the US International Trade Commission (ITC), she focuses her practice on the US trade remedy laws and Section 337 trade-related intellectual property disputes. With over 25 years of public-sector experience in international trade law and policy, she counsels clients engaging with the ITC, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), the US Department of Commerce, the US Department of Justice, US Customs and Border Protection and the courts.

During her time at the ITC, Ms. Schmidtlein served as the Chair from 2017 to 2018 and as a Commissioner from 2014 to 2025. As Chair, she managed all aspects of the agency including all substantive mission areas, interactions with USTR and Congress, budget formulation and execution, personnel and strategic planning. As Commissioner, she participated as a decisionmaker in more than 300 Section 337 determinations and more than 225 AD/CVD cases as well as four global safeguard investigations. Immediately before her appointment, she was a consulting expert to the World Bank on projects to strengthen audit and accounting regulation in emerging markets.

From 2003 to 2011, Ms. Schmidtlein served at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and was the Founding Director of the PCAOB’s Office of International Affairs, where she was responsible for the development and execution of the agency’s international rules and policies. She also led negotiating teams that reached agreements enabling PCAOB inspections and access to confidential information in 36 countries.

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Ms. Schmidtlein was an Associate General Counsel at USTR, where she represented the United States in disputes before the World Trade Organization and provided legal advice in connection with the negotiation of US Free Trade Agreements, including the US-Singapore FTA, US-Chile FTA, US-Australia FTA, US-CAFTA/DR FTA, US-Morocco FTA and US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement.

Ms. Schmidtlein also served as an Honors Program trial attorney for the Department of Justice in its Civil Division, where she was a lead attorney in dozens of trial-level cases involving challenges to US trade agencies’ antidumping and countervailing determinations, US customs regulations, financial services and government contracts.

Ms. Schmidtlein began her career as a law clerk for the Honorable Howard Sachs, then Chief Judge for the US District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

Kevin Wolf is a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. He has more than 25 years’ experience providing advice and counselling regarding the laws, regulations, policies and politics pertaining to export controls, sanctions, national security reviews of foreign direct investments and other international trade issues. His practice focuses on Export Administration Regulations (EAR, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Mr. Wolf previously served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration (2010- 2017) with the Bureau of Industry and Security, where he developed and implemented policies pertaining to export administration issues, particularly the licensing requirements of EAR. Mr. Wolf has not previously testified before the Commission.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? 

The three-part Intensive Trade Seminar, cohosted by the Institute for International Economic Policy at George Washington University, is geared towards individuals who want to learn how trade policy is made in Washington, DC. Past attendees include those in business, law, academia, NGOs, embassies and the U.S. Government.

Participants gain insight from trade professionals, pose questions to policy makers, and learn about the ever-shifting trade landscape. Attendees come away with an understanding of the trade policy-making process, the role of its key players, and the important issues facing policy makers.

The curriculum is focused on helping attendees broaden their understanding of trade policy making, those seeking a career in trade policy, others new to the trade policy field, and anyone serving the import/export community.

We also encourage the international community working on economic and trade issues, and others who want to learn more about international trade, to participate in this program. 

If you cannot view every session at the time it is originally offered, most sessions* will also be available off-line to paying attendees (access code will be required).

Registration for the Intensive Trade Seminar is open to the public and all sessions are off-the-record/Chatham House Rules.

WITA has a two-day cancellation policy for this event

* Most sessions will be available to paying attendees to watch at a later time. However, certain sessions may not be recorded to facilitate more open discussion.

**If your agency or business does not use Zoom, we can work with you to make content available on an accessible platform for later viewing.

Diamond Sponsors will receive two free passes to attend the Intensive Trade Seminar; Platinum, Platinum Half, and Gold level Sponsors will receive one free pass.

Thank you to our WITA Academy Sponsors