President Joe Biden names Chris Wilson as Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator at the Office of the USTR

By Emmanuel Legrand

US President Joe Biden has announced his intent to nominate Christopher Wilson to the position of Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The position has been vacant since it was created in 2015. 

  In addition, President Biden also announced his intent to nominate María L. Pagán as Deputy United States Trade Representative, in charge of the Geneva Office of the organisation. She is currently the Deputy General Counsel at the Office of the USTR.

  In that role, she provides legal advice to senior USTR officials on all legal aspects regarding trade negotiations, implementation of trade agreements, and trade related legislation and regulations. 

Leading the Administration's policy on trade-related IP rights

  Wilson is a 20-year veteran of the Office of the United States Trade Representative, where he has served in a variety of trade policy leadership roles, including Deputy Assistant US Trade Representative for Innovation and Intellectual Property (2006-2008) and several Assistant US Trade Representative positions.

  The role of Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator was created via a provision in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 with the task “to conduct trade negotiations and to enforce trade agreements relating to United States intellectual property and to take appropriate actions to address acts, policies, and practices of foreign governments that have a significant adverse impact on the value of United States innovation.” 

  For Washington, DC-based trade body representing record labels, the RIAA, has welcomed the appointment of Wilson as the Chief IP Negotiator, noting that he will be responsible "for helping lead the new Administration’s policy on trade-related intellectual property rights." 

Promote smart pro-growth policies

  RIAA’s Senior Vice President, International Policy George York commented: “RIAA applauds President Biden’s choice of Chris Wilson as the nominee for Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator. As a career trade professional with deep experience in the field, Chris is supremely qualified to take on this vital leadership role at USTR. President Biden’s announcement is especially welcome since this statutorily mandated position has not been filled since it was created in 2015. We thank President Biden for taking this historic and pivotal step to strengthen the US economy by selecting such an exceptional nominee to advocate for smart pro-growth trade policies that hold up American creators and protect the copyright on which they rely.”    

  He added: “Chris is deeply knowledgeable on trade and intellectual property rights issues, and brings an unmatched wealth of experience in critical regions from Europe and the Middle East, to Latin America and Central Asia.  He is a much welcome addition to USTR’s Innovation and Intellectual Property Office that is already extremely strong and has always been an incredible champion of American creators and their contributions to US jobs and growth through US trade policy engagement.”

Uniquely qualified for the role

  Ambassador Katherine Tai, President Biden's appointee as USTR, said Pagán and Wilson "have valuable experience that is needed at USTR during a critical moment for the country, and the world."     

  She said Wilson’s experience "shaping trade policy for more than two decades in a variety of critical regional and policy leadership roles at USTR makes him uniquely qualified to fill this important new position as the Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator."

  The two appointees need now to be confirmed by the US Senate.

  The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for developing and coordinating US international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing negotiations with other countries. 

  The head of USTR is the US Trade Representative, a Cabinet member who serves as the president’s principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues. USTR is part of the Executive Office of the President.