Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Jayme White will join Kelley Drye as a senior international trade adviser starting May 13 in the international trade practice group, the firm announced. White joined USTR in 2021, engaging with nations in the Western Hemisphere, Europe and the Middle East. USTR noted his departure in October, saying he led the enforcement of the USMCA, along with the global deal on sustainable steel and aluminum and negotiations on a critical minerals agreement. Prior to joining USTR, White worked in the office of then-Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., and as chief adviser for international competitiveness and innovation for the Senate Finance Committee.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America finalized its election of new officers and board members to govern the association for 2024-2026, the association said.
Katherine White, an international trade policy adviser for Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee, has been chosen by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to be its chief textiles and apparel negotiator. The announcement means the role is returning to a political appointee role, rather than a career staff role.
CBP named Dina Amato the new director of the agency’s Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program, a CBP spokesperson confirmed. Amato started in the new role April 8. She was most recently assistant director for trade of CBP’s Miami/Tampa field office, “where she had oversight over trade and agriculture operations for the entire state of Florida,” the spokesperson said.
Greta Peisch, former general counsel for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, has joined Wiley Rein as a partner in the International Trade Practice, the firm announced. At USTR, Peisch led the office's "enforcement agenda," including World Trade Organization and trade agreement disputes and Section 201 and Section 301 proceedings, the firm said. Before joining USTR, Peisch served as senior international trade counsel for the Senate Finance Committee.
Joseph Maher, former acting general counsel of DHS, has joined Nixon Peabody as partner in the national security and resilience practice, the law firm announced. Maher worked at DHS for over 21 years, where he advised "on all legal aspects of the department’s security and enforcement operations," the firm said.
CBP named Marty Raybon its new director of field operations for CBP's Detroit Field Office, the agency announced on March 25. Raybon will now be responsible for overseeing the Ambassador Bridge, the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, and the forthcoming Gordie Howe International Bridge, the agency said. Prior to this assignment, Raybon served as the executive director for CBP’s National Targeting Center.
The Federal Maritime Commission has hired Mohammad “Ali” Usman as its new chief information officer. Usman will direct information technology and serve as the "primary IT technical advisor to the Managing Director" as of March 11, the FMC said. Usman joins FMC from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, where he was chief technology officer.
John Leonard, deputy executive assistant commissioner at CBP's Office of Trade, will retire in April, acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said at the March 6 meeting of the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee. The agency didn't comment further.
Josh Kagan, former assistant U.S. trade representative for labor affairs, has joined Kelley Drye as a special counsel in the international trade practice group, the firm announced. At USTR, Kagan worked on adopting and enforcing "internationally recognized labor rights," along with the "negotiation and implementation of labor provisions included in bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade agreements."