Chairman

Amy A. Karpel today becomes Chair of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).  She succeeds Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, who was serving as Chair by operation of law after David S. Johanson’s term as Chair expired on June 16, 2024.  President Joseph R. Biden designated Commissioner Karpel as Chair for the term which will expire on June 16, 2026.

Chair Karpel, was nominated to the USITC by President Donald J. Trump on February 27, 2018; renominated on January 16, 2019, and June 5, 2019; and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 1, 2019.  She was sworn in as a member of the Commission on August 26, 2019, for a term expiring on June 16, 2023. 

Prior to her Commission appointment, Chair Karpel spent more than 13 years at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), including as Chief Counsel for Negotiations, Legislation and Administrative Law. While at USTR, Chair Karpel handled a range of international trade matters, including with respect to intellectual property, product standards, labor and environmental protections, and information communications technology.

Prior to her USTR service, Chair Karpel was an associate attorney at the law firm of Stewart and Stewart in Washington, DC.  In this role, she represented clients in antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings before the USITC and the Department of Commerce.  She also litigated appeals before the Court of International Trade and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Chair Karpel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from the University of Washington and a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the Washington College of Law at American University.  Originally from Olympia, WA, she resides in Washington, DC, with her husband and daughter.

The USITC is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency that investigates and makes determinations in proceedings involving imports claimed to injure a domestic industry, violations of U.S. intellectual property rights, or other unfair methods of competition in connection with imported goods; provides independent analysis and information on tariffs, trade, and competitiveness to the President and the Congress; and maintains the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

Rhonda K. (Schnare) Schmidtlein today becomes Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).  She succeeded outgoing Chairman David S. Johanson, whose term as Chair expired on June 16, 2024. Schmidtlein, the senior Democrat on the Commission, became Chairman by operation of law in the absence of a Presidential designation.

Chairman Schmidtlein was nominated to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) by President Barack Obama on July 15, 2013; renominated on January 6, 2014; and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 6, 2014. She was sworn in as a member of the Commission on April 28, 2014, for the term expiring on December 16, 2021. She previously served as Chairman of the USITC from January 13, 2017, through June 16, 2018.

Chairman Schmidtlein served as an expert consultant to the World Bank for the two years immediately prior to her appointment. In that role, she provided expertise on projects that sought to strengthen audit and accounting regulation and oversight in countries with emerging markets.

From 2005-2011, Chairman Schmidtlein served as the founding Director of the Office of International Affairs created to implement the international obligations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The PCAOB is a regulatory agency created by Congress in 2002 to protect the interests of investors in U.S. capital markets and further the public interest in independent audit reports of U.S. public companies. Before becoming the Director of the PCAOB’s Office of International Affairs, she served as Special Counsel to the Chairman of the PCAOB.

Chairman Schmidtlein served in the General Counsel’s office at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative from 1998 to 2003. In that role, she represented the United States as Head of Delegation and lead counsel in disputes before the World Trade Organization and provided legal counsel in connection with the negotiation of numerous international trade agreements.

Earlier in her career, Chairman Schmidtlein was an Honors Program trial attorney in the Civil Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. She also was an adjunct professor for legal research and writing at the George Washington University’s National Law Center. She began her career as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Howard F. Sachs, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri.

Chairman Schmidtlein holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a juris doctor degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Originally from Carrollton, Missouri, she resides in Washington D.C. with her husband, John, and two children.

The USITC is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency that investigates and makes determinations in proceedings involving imports claimed to injure a domestic industry, violations of U.S. intellectual property rights, or other unfair methods of competition in connection with imported goods; provides independent analysis and information on tariffs, trade, and competitiveness to the President and the Congress; and maintains the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

Jason E. Kearns has been named the Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).  He succeeds outgoing Chairman David S. Johanson, who was serving as Chairman by operation of law through June 16, 2020.  President Donald Trump designated Commissioner Kearns as Chairman for the term of June 17, 2020, through June 16, 2022. 

Chairman Kearns was nominated to the USITC by President Barack Obama on January 17, 2017; re-nominated by President Donald Trump on June 29, 2017; and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 1, 2018, for the term expiring on December 16, 2024.

Chairman Kearns served as trade counsel for 11 years on the Democratic staff of the Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives, including most recently as Chief International Trade Counsel.  Prior to his employment at the Committee on Ways and Means, he was the Assistant General Counsel of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative from 2003-2006. 

Earlier in his career, Chairman Kearns practiced international trade law at the law firm of Wilmer, Culter & Pickering (now WilmerHale) from 2000-2003 and worked at the law firm of Mayer, Brown & Platt from 1995-1998, including a stint in the firm’s Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic office. 

Chairman Kearns holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Denver, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, and a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University.  Originally from Keenesburg, Colorado, he resides in Washington D.C. with his wife, Lindy, and three children, Ellie, Keevan, and Sander.

The USITC is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency that makes determinations in proceedings involving imports claimed to injure a domestic industry, violations of intellectual property rights, or other unfair methods of competition in connection with imported goods; provides independent tariff, trade, and competitiveness-related analysis and information to the legislative and executive branches of government; and maintains the U.S. tariff schedule.  The President may designate the Chairman and the Vice Chairman for two-year terms in those positions, or the most senior Commissioner of a party other than that of the outgoing Chairman may accede to the Chairman position by operation of law.

On June 17th, 2018, David S. Johanson became Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).  He succeeded outgoing Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, whose term as Chairman expired on June 16, 2018.  Johanson, the senior Republican on the Commission, became Chairman by operation of law in the absence of a Presidential designation.

Johanson was nominated to the USITC by President Barack Obama on April 8, 2011, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 31, 2011.  He was sworn in as a member of the Commission on December 8, 2011, for the Commission term expiring on December 16, 2018.  He served as Vice Chairman of the USITC from August 11, 2016, to June 16, 2018.

Johanson served as International Trade Counsel on the Republican staff of the Committee on Finance of the U.S. Senate from 2003 until his USITC appointment.  While on the staff of the Committee on Finance, he was responsible for legislative and policy matters involving negotiations of the World Trade Organization, the Free Trade Area of the Americas, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and numerous free trade agreements.  He assisted in the passage of implementing legislation for free trade agreements between the United States and Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, Singapore, and South Korea.  He also worked on legislative matters concerning trade preference programs (the Generalized System of Preferences, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Caribbean Basin Initiative, and the Andean Trade Preference Act), Miscellaneous Tariff Bills, Trade Adjustment Assistance, and the trade-related provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill. 

Prior to his employment at the Committee on Finance, he practiced international trade law for six years at the law firm of Stewart and Stewart in Washington, D.C.  Earlier in his career, he worked for Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX), Representative Wally Herger (R-CA), and Representative George Radanovich (R-CA). 

Johanson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University, a Master of Philosophy degree from Cambridge University, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Texas School of Law.  Chairman Johanson is an Eagle Scout. He is originally from Austin, Texas. 

The USITC is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency that makes determinations in proceedings involving imports claimed to injure a domestic industry or violate U.S. intellectual property rights; provides independent tariff, trade, and competitiveness-related analysis and information to the legislative and executive branches of government; and maintains the U.S. tariff schedule.  Commissioners are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for nine year terms, unless they are appointed to fill unexpired terms.

On June 17th, 2016, Irving A. Williamson became Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).  He succeeded outgoing Chairman Meredith M. Broadbent, whose term expired on June 16, 2016.  Williamson, the senior Democrat on the Commission, became Chairman by operation of law in the absence of a Presidential designation.

A Democrat of New York, Williamson was nominated to the USITC by President George W. Bush on September 7, 2006; renominated on January 9, 2007; and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 1, 2007.  He was sworn in as a member of the Commission on February 7, 2007, for a term expiring on June 16, 2014.  He previously served as Chairman of the USITC for the term June 17, 2012, to June 16, 2014.  He served as Vice Chairman of the USITC for the term June 17, 2010, to June 16, 2012.

Williamson has almost 50 years of experience in the international affairs and trade policy fields.  Prior to his USITC appointment, he was for seven years President of Williamson International Trade Strategies, Inc., a New York-based consulting firm that advised clients on legal, policy, and regulatory issues affecting international trade and business.  As a consultant, he worked with over 20 U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other donor-funded projects, advising countries on World Trade Organization (WTO) accession, compliance, and participation; he has also conducted WTO and other trade-related training programs all over the world.  Much of his work focused on trade with Africa and the Middle East.

From 1993 to 1998, Williamson was Deputy General Counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where he helped manage a 14-attorney office that was engaged in more than 30 dispute settlement proceedings.  The office was named best government international law office in May 1997.  As Deputy General Counsel, he worked on implementing legislation for the WTO and the North American Free Trade Agreement and also served as chairman of the interagency Section 301 Committee, which investigated foreign trade barriers. He served as acting general counsel for seven months.  Williamson played a role in developing President Bill Clinton's Partnership for Economic Growth and Opportunity in Africa initiative and represented USTR in negotiations with the Congress on the African Growth and Opportunity Act legislation.

Following his USTR service, Williamson was Vice President for Trade, Investment, and Economic Development Programs at the Africa-America Institute in New York.  From 1985 to 1993, he was the manager of trade policy for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.  Prior to his Port Authority service, Williamson served for 18 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State.

Williamson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Brown University, a Master of Arts degree in international relations with an emphasis on African studies and international economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a Juris Doctor degree from the George Washington University Law School.  He is married to Cheryl A. Parham, has two children, Patrick and Elizabeth, and resides in New York City.

The USITC is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency that makes determinations in proceedings involving imports claimed to injure a domestic industry or violate U.S. intellectual property rights, provides independent tariff, trade and competitiveness-related analysis and information to the legislative and executive branches of government, and maintains the U.S. tariff schedule.  Commissioners are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for nine year terms, unless they are appointed to fill unexpired terms.

President Barack Obama has designated Meredith M. Broadbent, a Republican of Virginia, as Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) for the term June 17, 2014, through June 16, 2016.

Broadbent was nominated to the USITC by President Barack Obama on November 8, 2011. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in August 2, 2012, and was sworn in on September 10, 2012, for the Commission term expiring on June 16, 2017.

Broadbent held the William M. Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies from October 2010 until her appointment.

From 2003 to 2008, she served as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Industry, Market Access, and Telecommunications. In that position, she was responsible for developing U.S. policy that affected trade in industrial goods, telecommunications, and e-commerce. She led the U.S. negotiating team for the Doha Round negotiations to reduce tariff and nontariff barriers on industrial goods and successfully concluded an innovative plurilateral trade agreement with the European Union, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. She also directed an administration initiative to reform the Generalized System of Preferences program for developing countries.

From 2009 to 2010 she was a Trade Advisor at the Global Business Dialogue, a multinational business association focused on international trade and investment issues.

Earlier in her career, Broadbent served as a senior professional staff member on the Republican staff of the Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives. In that position, she drafted and managed major portions of the Trade and Development Act of 2000, legislation to authorize normal trade relations with China, and the Trade Act of 2002, which included trade promotion authority and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act.

Prior to that, she served as professional staff for the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, where she was instrumental in the development and House passage of the implementing bills for the North American Free Trade Agreement and Uruguay Round Agreements.

Broadbent holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from in history from Middlebury College and a Master of Business Administration degree from the George Washington University School of Business and Public Management.

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, she is married to Charles Riedel, has two sons, Charles and William, and resides in McLean, Virginia.

The USITC is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency that provides trade expertise to both the legislative and executive branches of government, determines the impact of imports on U.S. industries, and directs actions against certain unfair trade practices, such as patent, trademark, and copyright infringement. Commissioners are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for nine-year terms, unless they are appointed to fill unexpired terms. The Chairman and the Vice Chairman are designated by the President for two-year terms in those positions.

President Barack Obama has designated Irving A. Williamson, a Democrat of New York, as Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) for the term June 17, 2012, through June 16, 2014.

Chairman Williamson was nominated to the USITC by President George W. Bush on September 7, 2006; renominated on January 9, 2007; and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 1, 2007. He was sworn in as a member of the Commission on February 7, 2007, for a term expiring on June 16, 2014. President Barack Obama designated him Vice Chairman for the term ending June 16, 2012.

Chairman Williamson has more than 40 years of experience in the international and trade policy fields. Prior to his appointment, he was for seven years President of Williamson International Trade Strategies, Inc., a New York-based consulting firm that advised clients on legal, policy, and regulatory issues affecting international trade and business. As a consultant, he worked with over 20 U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other donor-funded projects, advising countries on World Trade Organization (WTO) accession, compliance, and participation; he has also conducted WTO and other trade-related training programs all over the world. Much of his work focused on trade with Africa and the Middle East.

From 1993 to 1998, Chairman Williamson was Deputy General Counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where he helped manage a 14-attorney office that was engaged in more than 30 dispute settlement proceedings. The office was named best government international law office in May 1997. In this position, he also served as chairman of the interagency Section 301 Committee, which investigated foreign trade barriers, and worked on implementing legislation for the WTO and the North American Free Trade Agreement. He served as acting general counsel for seven months. Chairman Williamson played a role in developing President Bill Clinton's Partnership for Economic Growth and Opportunity in Africa initiative and represented USTR in negotiations with the Congress on the African Growth and Opportunity Act legislation.

Following his USTR service, Chairman Williamson was Vice President for Trade, Investment, and Economic Development Programs at the Africa-America Institute in New York. From 1985 to 1993, he was the manager of trade policy for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Prior to that, he served for 18 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State.

Chairman Williamson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Brown University, a Master of Arts degree in international relations with an emphasis on African studies and international economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a Juris Doctor degree from the George Washington University Law School. He is married to Cheryl A. Parham, has two children, Patrick and Elizabeth, and resides in New York City.

The USITC is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency that provides trade expertise to both the legislative and executive branches of government, determines the impact of imports on U.S. industries, and directs actions against certain unfair trade practices, such as patent, trademark, and copyright infringement. Commissioners are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for nine-year terms, unless they are appointed to fill unexpired terms. The Chairman and the Vice Chairman are designated by the President for two-year terms in those positions.