Former U.S. Trade Representative
Susan C. Schwab is a professor of public policy at the University of Maryland, and a strategic advisor to the law firm Mayer Brown, LLP. Ambassador Schwab served as US Trade Representative (2006-09), and as Deputy USTR (2005-06).
She currently serves on the boards of Caterpillar, FedEx, Boeing and Marriott. She is a trustee of The Conference Board, and is on the board of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Schwab’s career has spanned the public, private and non-profit sectors, with a focus on international trade and development. As USTR, she concluded free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, Panama and South Korea, launched the initial Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and pursued the WTO Doha negotiations. She initiated and was able to settle multiple trade disputes between the US and Canada, China, and others. Previously in government, she had served as assistant secretary of commerce and director-general of the US & Foreign Commercial Service, legislative director for Senator John C. Danforth (R-MO), and in several other trade policy and negotiating roles.
In the private sector, Schwab was director of corporate business development for Motorola, Inc., working mainly in China and elsewhere in Asia.
In academia, Schwab served as vice chancellor and president of the University System of Maryland Foundation, and as dean of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland.
She holds a B.A. from Williams College, a master’s from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. from The George Washington University.
