USTR Appoints Veteran Congressional Aide Jamila Thompson as New Chief of Staff, According to Reuters

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON – U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has appointed experienced former congressional aide Jamila Thompson as her new chief of staff, a move aimed at sustaining a strong trade agenda in the concluding months of President Joe Biden’s administration. Thompson has been serving in an acting capacity since January.

Significance of the Appointment

Tai’s office has experienced the departure of several key personnel in recent months. Among those who left were Thompson’s predecessor, Heather Hurlburt, and Deputy USTR Sarah Bianchi, who handled Asian trade affairs. Additionally, Jayme White, another deputy USTR managing European and Western Hemisphere trade matters, transitioned to private practice in October 2023. Thompson’s extensive management experience, acquired over 20 years in Congress, positions her well to help fill these gaps. She previously served as chief of staff to the late U.S. Representative John Lewis of Georgia.

Despite failing to secure a limited trade agreement with Indo-Pacific nations last November that focused on regulatory, labor, and environmental issues, Tai’s office is still engaged in negotiations for a trade and investment partnership with Kenya. Recently, Tai also met with Jonathan Reynolds, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade in the new British government, in London.

Background Information

Thompson’s congressional experience overlaps with Tai’s role as chief trade counsel to the House Ways and Means Committee, which is focused on tax and trade issues. During this time, Tai collaborated closely with Lewis’s office and members of the Congressional Black Caucus to renegotiate key labor provisions in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Lewis’s support for the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement was pivotal for its ratification by Congress.

Core Statement

"From our time together in Congress until now, Jamila has been the epitome of wise counsel, sound judgment, and invaluable compassion," Tai noted in a statement. "Jamila’s wealth of experience, including her role as a senior staff member to the late Congressman John Lewis, will help anchor our work in the principles of fairness and equity for all."