Today, United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk hosted a ceremony designating the “Warren Lavorel Conference Room.” The dedication is in honor of the distinguished former USTR employee, Warren Lavorel, who passed away this spring at the age of 75 after devoting his life to public service.
Warren Lavorel worked in the area of international trade for more than three decades. After beginning his career as an economist at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Lavorel joined USTR, eventually rising to the rank of Ambassador. He was instrumental as Chief Negotiator in the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations from October 1987 through mid-1993. He helped bring about the greatest trade reform since the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was created at the end of World War II. Following that achievement, he was appointed Deputy Director General of GATT from 1993-1995. He then continued to serve in Geneva, Switzerland as one of the original Deputy Directors General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) until his retirement.
Ambassador Kirk welcomed several distinguished guests for the ceremony including former USTRs Bill Brock (1981-85), Mickey Kantor (1993-96), and Charlene Barshefsky (1997-2000). Members of Warren Lavorel’s family also attended the ceremony. Warren Lavorel will be warmly remembered by the entire USTR community which continues to benefit from his impressive legacy.
