WASHINGTON – The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today announced that Deanne de Lima will serve as Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative for Japan, Korea, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Affairs for a 120-day rotation. Ms. De Lima previously served as the Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for APEC Affairs.
“Ms. De Lima’s substantial experience working with APEC brings a pertinent perspective to our trade and economic relationships in the region at an important time. She is a dedicated public servant and a subject matter expert, and I could not be more confident of her ability to lead the office during this next rotation,” said United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai. “I would also like to thank Danielle Fumagalli for serving in this role and leading the office through the previous 120-day rotation.”
The Office of Japan, Korea, and APEC Affairs is responsible for addressing U.S.-Japan bilateral trade issues, monitoring Japan’s compliance with bilateral and international trade treaties, and coordinating with Japanese counterparts on global trade issues of mutual interest. The Office also monitors Korea’s implementation of its commitments under the U.S.-Korea (KORUS) Free Trade Agreement, as well as ensuring Korea’s compliance with various bilateral trade agreements and developing U.S. trade priorities under APEC and its 21 member economies.
Deanne de Lima, Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative
Deanne de Lima is the Acting Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Japan, Korea, and APEC. Ms. De Lima served as the Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for APEC and previously as the Director for APEC in the same office. In these roles, Ms. De Lima has served as the U.S. representative to the APEC Committee on Trade and Investment, and has been responsible for APEC Ministerial policy planning, APEC statement negotiations, and USTR coordination across various APEC trade-related workstreams, committees and sub-fora, including during the recent 2023 APEC U.S. host year.
Prior to joining USTR in 2022, Ms. De Lima worked on the APEC Senior Officials’ Team at the U.S. Department of State. In 2021, Ms. De Lima served as a Brookings legislative fellow in the U.S. Senate.
Ms. De Lima has also worked on bilateral trade issues with economies in North Africa in the State Department Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (2012); economic development at the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia in Bangkok, Thailand (2013); and consular issues at the U.S. Consulate in Quebec City, Canada (2007). Ms. De Lima began her career at Pyxera Global, a DC-based international development non-profit.
Ms. De Lima holds an MA in International Affairs from the George Washington University, a BA in International Studies and French from the University of Nebraska, and certificates from Fundação Getulio Vargas (São Paulo, Brazil) and Centre de Linguistique Apliquée (Besançon, France). Ms. De Lima is originally from Kansas, and currently lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband and two children.
###
