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Katherine Tai
Katherine Tai
Katherine Tai
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Katherine Chi Tai (Chinese: 戴琪 ; born March 18, 1974)[2][3] is an American lawyer who served as the 19th United States Trade Representative from March 18, 2021, to January 20, 2025. The daughter of Taiwanese American immigrants, she is the first Asian American to serve in the position.[4] Tai is a member of the Democratic Party and previously served as the chief trade counsel for the United States House Committee on Ways and Means.

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Tai was born to a Taiwanese American family on March 18, 1974, in Connecticut. She grew up in Washington, D.C., and attended Sidwell Friends School.[5] Her grandfather, Li Hongji [zh], was a member of the first Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China.[6] Her parents were waishengren from Jiangsu and Henan,[7] born in Mainland China.[8] They relocated to Taiwan in 1949 during the Great Retreat and later immigrated to the United States.[9]

Tai is fluent in Mandarin.[10][11][12] In 1996, she graduated from Yale University, where she was a member of Pierson College, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.[13] After college, she taught English at Sun Yat-sen University as a Yale-China Fellow for two years, from 1996 to 1998.[14][15] Tai went on to study at Harvard Law School, where she earned a Juris Doctor in 2001.[16][17]

After law school, she worked for several law firms, including Powell Goldstein, Sidley Austin, Baker McKenzie, and Miller & Chevalier, and clerked for U.S. district courts in Washington, D.C., and Maryland.[10][15]

Trade policy career

[edit]

From 2007 to 2014, Tai served in the trade representative's Office of General Counsel, becoming chief counsel for China trade enforcement from 2011 until her departure.[18] At the Office of General Counsel, she worked on trade cases at the World Trade Organization.[19] In 2014, she became trade counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee. She was named chief trade counsel in 2017.[18]

During Tai's tenure with the Committee on Ways and Means, she played a significant role in the House's negotiations with the Trump administration regarding the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA),[10][11] advocating for stronger labor provisions.[14] The Associated Press has described her as a "problem-solving pragmatist on trade policy".[20]

Trade Representative (2021–2025)

[edit]

Nomination and confirmation

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Tai's confirmation hearing to become Trade Representative; February 25, 2021

Tai was nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to serve as trade representative in December 2020. Tai has been described as both an "avowed progressive"[21] and as a "consensus builder [who can] help bridge the Democratic Party's varying views on trade".[22]

Hearings on Tai's nomination were held before the Senate Finance Committee on February 25, 2021. Tai was reported out of the committee by unanimous consent on March 3, 2021.[23] The entire Senate confirmed her on March 17, 2021, in a 98–0 vote; senators Bernie Sanders and Mazie Hirono were absent for the vote.[24]

Tenure

[edit]
Tai with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2022

Tai was sworn into office on March 18, 2021.[25] In her service as Trade Representative, Tai holds the rank and style of ambassador, and is a member of the Cabinet of the United States. As trade representative, Tai was credited by some advocates for pushing the Biden administration in favor of the TRIPS Waiver.[26] In June 2021, Tai became the first trade representative to address the AFL–CIO in what was described as an effort to reset the USTR's relations with labor unions.[27] As trade representative, Tai has been a co-chair of the Trade and Technology Council since its creation in 2021.[28]

Publications

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Articles

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Katherine Tai

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from Grokipedia
Katherine Chi Tai (born March 1974) is an American lawyer and government official who served as the 19th Trade Representative (USTR) from March 2021 to January 2025. Born in to parents from who grew up in and immigrated to the in the , Tai earned a in history from in 1996 and a from . She began her career clerking for federal judges and practicing before joining USTR in 2007, where she rose to Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement by 2014, focusing on enforcing agreements against unfair practices. From 2014 to 2021, Tai served as Chief International Counsel for the Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Committee, advising on policy and negotiations. As USTR under President Biden, Tai prioritized a "worker-centered" agenda that integrated labor and environmental protections into agreements, advanced enforcement against , and pursued frameworks like the , though her approach faced criticism for insufficient new bilateral deals, stalled multilateral progress, and internal staff departures amid policy disagreements. Fluent in Mandarin, Tai's tenure marked her as the first Asian American and woman of color confirmed in the role, emphasizing strategic rebalancing over traditional liberalization.

Personal Background

Early Life and Family

Katherine Tai was born in Connecticut in 1974, the first in her family to be born in the United States. Her parents, born in mainland China, grew up in Taiwan before immigrating to the U.S. as graduate students in the 1960s. They became naturalized U.S. citizens about five years after her birth. When Tai was two years old, her family moved to the suburbs after her father secured a research position at the Army Institute of Research; her mother subsequently joined the World Bank as an employee. Tai attended during her upbringing in the area. She is fluent in Mandarin, a proficiency tied to her family's Chinese heritage.

Education

Katherine Tai earned a degree in history from in 1996. Following her undergraduate studies, she served as a for the Yale-China Association at in , , from 1996 to 1998, where she taught English and developed fluency in Mandarin. Tai then attended , receiving a in 2001. During her legal education, she focused on and related fields, laying the groundwork for her subsequent career in . Prior to higher education, Tai graduated from in .

Pre-USTR Professional Career

Early Trade Policy Roles

Tai joined the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in 2007 as an associate general counsel in the Office of General Counsel. In this capacity, she developed and litigated trade enforcement cases, including disputes at the (WTO), focusing on compliance and remedies against unfair practices. Her work contributed to U.S. efforts in multilateral trade litigation during the and early administrations. By 2014, Tai had advanced to chief counsel for trade enforcement at USTR, a role in which she oversaw legal strategies to counter Chinese subsidies, violations, and other non-market practices affecting U.S. industries. This position involved directing enforcement actions under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and coordinating interagency responses to 's economic policies, building on prior USTR investigations into Chinese trade barriers. Tai's Mandarin fluency and prior experience living in informed her approach to these bilateral challenges, earning her recognition for expertise in China-focused trade remedies. She served in this senior enforcement role until transitioning to Capitol Hill later that year.

Congressional Service

From 2014 to 2021, Katherine Tai served as Chief International Trade Counsel for the Democratic staff of the on Ways and Means Subcommittee on . In this capacity, she advised Democratic members on policy, enforcement, and negotiations, focusing on issues such as labor standards, , and agreements affecting U.S. workers and industries. Her role involved drafting , preparing hearings, and coordinating with executive agencies on disputes. Tai worked closely with Representative Jr. (D-NJ), serving as Chief Trade Counsel for the Trade Subcommittee from August 2017 to January 2019, during which she supported Pascrell's priorities on enforcing trade rules against unfair practices, particularly from . She also functioned as Trade Subcommittee Staff Director, overseeing staff operations and strategy for Democratic efforts on the full . A key achievement during her tenure was her involvement in the renegotiation and congressional approval of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in 2018–2020. Tai helped craft Democratic demands for stronger labor and environmental provisions, including the Rapid Response Mechanism for rapid adjudication of worker rights violations in . She played an instrumental role in bipartisan passage of the agreement, which replaced NAFTA and incorporated enforceable rules on digital trade, auto manufacturing wages, and . This work earned her bipartisan respect, with support from labor unions and business groups for balancing worker protections with . Tai's counsel extended to oversight of U.S. Trade Representative actions, including Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports and WTO disputes, emphasizing enforcement against currency manipulation and forced technology transfers. Her contributions helped shape committee reports and amendments prioritizing domestic manufacturing and reducing trade deficits with key partners.

U.S. Trade Representative Tenure (2021–2025)

Nomination and Confirmation

President-elect Joe Biden announced Katherine Tai's nomination as the United States Trade Representative on December 10, 2020, selecting her for her experience in trade enforcement and congressional advisory roles. The formal nomination, designated PN78-18, was received by the Senate on January 20, 2021, following Biden's inauguration. Tai's confirmation hearing occurred on February 25, 2021, before the Senate Finance Committee, where she emphasized a worker-centered trade agenda, continued enforcement of existing trade agreements, and multilateral engagement on issues like and the . Committee members from both parties questioned her on topics including U.S.- trade relations, , and potential new trade deals, with Tai affirming support for reviewing and building upon prior administrations' policies while prioritizing domestic labor and environmental standards. The confirmed Tai on March 17, 2021, by a unanimous vote of 98-0, marking a rare bipartisan endorsement for a Biden Cabinet nominee and making her the first Asian American woman of color to serve in the role. The following day, March 18, 2021, Vice President administered the to Tai as the 19th U.S. Trade Representative, with the rank of . This swift process reflected broad consensus on her qualifications amid ongoing global trade challenges.

China-Focused Enforcement

During her tenure as U.S. Trade Representative, Katherine Tai prioritized enforcement of existing trade remedies against , emphasizing targeted measures to address unfair practices such as theft, forced , and state subsidies rather than pursuing broad negotiations. In an October 4, 2021, speech, Tai outlined the Biden administration's approach as "worker-centered," focusing on strengthening domestic supply chains in strategic sectors like semiconductors and clean energy while maintaining Section 301 tariffs imposed in 2018–2019 on approximately $370 billion of Chinese imports. These tariffs, enacted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, targeted China's non-market economic practices and remained largely intact following a statutory four-year review initiated in 2022, with Tai announcing the review's completion on May 14, 2024. Tai oversaw the reopening of the Section 301 tariff exclusion process in October 2021, allowing U.S. importers to apply for relief on specific products where domestic alternatives were unavailable, resulting in over 2,000 exclusions granted by early 2022 before a temporary pause. This was followed by the review's modifications, which raised tariffs on $18 billion of targeted imports: electric vehicles from 25% to 100% effective in ; lithium-ion batteries from 7.5% to 25% in ; solar cells from 25% to 50% in 2025; steel and aluminum products to 25% in ; and semiconductors to 50% in 2025. These hikes, finalized on , , aimed to counter China's overcapacity and industrial subsidies, with USTR citing evidence of persistent unfair practices despite the . A key enforcement priority was combating forced labor in Chinese supply chains, particularly in . Tai issued a statement supporting the (UFLPA) upon its passage on December 23, 2021, which established a rebuttable presumption that goods from or involving certain entities are ineligible for U.S. import unless proven free of forced labor. The UFLPA took effect on June 21, 2022, under the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force co-chaired by the , with USTR contributing to strategy development announced by Tai on January 26, 2022, focusing on global tracing and multilateral coordination. An updated enforcement strategy was released on August 1, 2023, incorporating importer guidance and targeting high-risk sectors like , tomatoes, and polysilicon, leading to over 3,500 shipments detained or denied entry by U.S. and by mid-2024. Tai's enforcement extended to initiating new Section 301 investigations, such as one on December 23, 2024, into China's acts targeting maritime, logistics, and sectors for dominance, building on prior findings of actionable subsidies and discriminatory policies. Overall, these actions reflected a shift from to sustained pressure, with Tai emphasizing in 2024 testimony that tariffs and forced labor bans serve as tools to enforce compliance without conceding on core issues like market distortions. However, implementation faced challenges, including disruptions and calls from some stakeholders for broader tariff removals, which USTR rejected in favor of sector-specific hikes.

Multilateral and Regional Initiatives

During her tenure, Katherine Tai prioritized multilateral engagement at the (WTO), advocating for reforms to restore effective dispute settlement while preserving member sovereignty and democratic processes. In remarks prepared for delivery on October 2021, she underscored the value of the WTO as a forum for proposing improvements to multilateral rules, aiming for a fairer system. The , under Tai's leadership, formally accepted the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on April 11, 2023, committing to disciplines on harmful subsidies contributing to and depletion of . However, in October 2023, the U.S. withdrew support for a joint initiative on data storage and certain digital trade demands at the WTO, citing the need to accommodate stronger domestic technology regulations rather than pursuing global prohibitions on data localization requirements. On the regional front, Tai oversaw the launch of the for Prosperity (IPEF) on May 23, 2022, involving 14 partner economies including , , , and several Southeast Asian nations, structured around four pillars—, supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy—without commitments to reduce tariffs or expand market access. She hosted the second IPEF ministerial meeting in on May 2023, advancing negotiations on resilient supply chains and sustainable economic practices amid geopolitical tensions. Tai described IPEF as a modern economic arrangement tailored to 21st-century challenges like digital and labor standards, drawing from models such as the USMCA. Tai also focused on enforcing and strengthening the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which entered into force on July 1, 2020, through regular Free Trade Commission meetings and mechanisms. In May 2024, during the fourth such meeting in Phoenix, she emphasized implementation of labor reforms in , including union democracy and worker , to address automotive sector value content rules and prevent of non-NAFTA-origin goods. Tai highlighted the USMCA's in fostering high-tech industries like semiconductors in regions such as , while preparing for the mandatory joint review in 2026 to extend benefits to communities impacted by prior trade liberalization. No new comprehensive agreements were negotiated or concluded during her term, with efforts instead directed toward targeted and framework-based .

Domestic and Sector-Specific Policies

Tai's tenure emphasized a "worker-centered" trade , articulated in June 2021, which prioritized , equitable growth, and alignment with domestic initiatives like the American Jobs Plan to address wage stagnation and support manufacturing resurgence. This approach sought to integrate trade enforcement with U.S. , using tools such as tariffs alongside investments to enhance for workers, particularly in sectors vulnerable to . By April 2024, USTR under Tai had advanced this framework through enhanced monitoring of existing agreements, aiming to prevent trade-induced job losses and promote , as seen in support for domestic legislation like the PRO Act. A core domestic focus was enforcing labor provisions in the USMCA via the Rapid Response Mechanism, targeting violations in Mexican facilities to safeguard U.S. competitiveness. From 2021 to 2024, USTR initiated 22 reviews, resolving 17 cases that benefited approximately 30,000 workers through over $5 million in backpay and benefits, worker reinstatements in nine facilities, and recognition of independent unions in another nine. These actions addressed issues like denied union access and unfair dismissals in auto parts and other plants, directly mitigating downward pressure on U.S. wages by curbing low-cost labor . In manufacturing and supply chains, Tai advocated adapting trade rules to prioritize resilience over efficiency, as outlined in June 2023 remarks and a January 2025 policy paper series. This included soliciting public input in March 2024 on diversifying critical inputs like semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, integrating trade with domestic incentives to reduce vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19 disruptions. USTR efforts supported manufacturing revival by enforcing forced labor bans under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, adding entities to restricted lists and prohibiting imports in sectors like solar panels and apparel, thereby protecting U.S. producers from subsidized competition. Sector-specific initiatives extended to agriculture, where USTR secured gains to bolster rural economies. In February 2024, negotiations reopened Colombia's market to U.S. , enabling $101 million in exports from 2022 levels; reduced tariffs on U.S. pecans from 70% and table grapes; expanded ethanol imports, projecting $150-200 million annually; and lifted restrictions. These measures aimed to stabilize incomes and counter non-market barriers, aligning with domestic agricultural support programs.

Policy Impacts and Controversies

Economic Outcomes

The U.S. trade deficit expanded markedly during Katherine Tai's tenure as U.S. Trade Representative from 2021 to 2025, rising by nearly 40% over the Biden administration's term and reaching record highs in multiple years, with increases in three out of four years. Monthly deficits frequently exceeded $70 billion, as seen in July 2025 at $78.31 billion, driven by strong U.S. import demand amid post-pandemic recovery and limited export growth. This widening gap persisted despite Tai's emphasis on worker-centered trade and selective tariff maintenance, raising questions about the efficacy of these policies in addressing structural imbalances. Manufacturing employment experienced initial gains, adding over 775,000 jobs from January 2021 to August 2024, partly linked to incentives for domestic production and under Tai's initiatives. However, the sector saw reversals later, with a net loss of 78,000 jobs over the 2024-2025 period and durable goods openings declining amid broader economic pressures. Tai's continuation of Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports, covering over $300 billion in goods, aimed to curb unfair practices but correlated with higher input costs for U.S. firms—estimated at $51 billion in elevated prices passed to consumers—and only modest reductions in the bilateral deficit, which stood at $295 billion in goods for 2024. Implementation of the USMCA under Tai's oversight yielded mixed results, with enhanced labor provisions leading to remediation in facilities and potential uplift for North American supply chains, contributing to expanded regional and . Yet, disputes such as the biotech corn panel victory highlighted ongoing frictions, while aggregate economic modeling indicated small negative welfare effects from retaliations and limited aggregate job preservation. Overall, Tai's policies prioritized sectoral protections over broad , correlating with resilient but costlier domestic industries amid persistent deficits exceeding $900 billion annually by .

Criticisms from Stakeholders

The U.S. and other business groups criticized USTR Tai's approach for prioritizing worker-centered policies over traditional market liberalization, arguing it resulted in a lack of new trade agreements and exacerbated U.S. trade deficits exceeding $1 trillion annually during her tenure. In its April 2024 statement, the Chamber specifically faulted the USTR's National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers for delisting numerous foreign practices—such as certain digital services taxes and Indian data localization rules—previously highlighted as discriminatory, interpreting this as a softening of enforcement that respected trading partners' "sovereign right" to impose barriers at the expense of American exporters. Agricultural industry organizations, including the National Potato Council and , expressed frustration with Tai's handling of Mexico's escalating biotech restrictions, such as the 2023 decree banning genetically modified corn imports—which threatened $5 billion in annual U.S. exports—and delays in resolving disputes under the USMCA. A of 27 groups wrote to Tai in March 2021 warning of a "rapidly deteriorating" bilateral relationship, and subsequent letters in 2023 urged faster enforcement after Mexico's measures violated USMCA science-based standards. While USTR initiated a USMCA dispute panel on August 18, 2023, stakeholders continued to criticize the administration for insufficient progress in restoring amid ongoing Mexican non-tariff barriers. Digital trade coalitions, such as NetChoice representing tech firms, accused Tai of undermining U.S. competitiveness by blocking multilateral agreements on cross-border data flows and opposing WTO e-commerce rules that would prohibit forced , actions seen as aligning with domestic antitrust priorities over global market access. In November 2023, the Biden administration under Tai withdrew support for WTO digital trade disciplines, a move criticized by industry for ceding ground to and the EU on issues affecting $2.5 trillion in annual U.S. digital exports.

Internal and Operational Challenges

During her tenure as U.S. Trade Representative, Katherine Tai's office faced notable staff turnover among senior officials, with more than half a dozen departures reported in early 2024. Key exits included Sarah Bianchi, deputy USTR for Asia, who stepped down in January 2024 amid plotting of next moves for the office, and Heather Hurlburt, chief of staff, who departed on January 26, 2024. Two of the three deputy U.S. trade representatives also left during this period. Anonymous current and former officials attributed these exits to frustrations with a stalled trade agenda, including the failure of initiatives like a green steel deal with the and withdrawal from key talks in the , as well as dissatisfaction with Tai's management style, described as tough on personnel and contributing to strained inter-agency relationships, such as with the . These departures were planned over months following setbacks in 2023 and amid broader election-year pressures on trade policy. Defenders of Tai, including staff with experience under multiple trade representatives, countered that the turnover reflected policy disagreements rather than personal leadership failures, noting that Tai inherited a career staff—many holdovers from the prior administration—resistant to the Biden administration's shift toward worker-centered trade policies. They argued her approach involved rigorous scrutiny of substantive arguments, not undue harshness, and highlighted external factors like White House-imposed appointees, such as the controversial nomination of Nelson as deputy, which faced opposition from labor-aligned groups for his corporate trade consulting background. No formal investigations or public complaints regarding operational misconduct were documented, and USTR continued to advance enforcement actions, such as Section 301 probes, despite the transitions.

Publications and Intellectual Contributions

Scholarly Articles

Katherine Tai's scholarly output is modest, reflecting her career emphasis on legal practice, enforcement, and rather than academic research. Prior to her role as U.S. Trade Representative, Tai served as Chief Counsel for China Enforcement at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (2014–2017) and as counsel at the U.S. Court of International Trade, where her contributions centered on litigation, compliance monitoring, and internal legal analyses rather than peer-reviewed publications. No articles authored by Tai appear in major law reviews or economics journals, such as those indexed in under her name. During her tenure as USTR, Tai's intellectual influence manifested more through policy directives and strategic memos than traditional scholarship. For instance, she oversaw the development of enforcement reports on China's compliance with obligations, including the 2021–2024 annual reviews that documented persistent subsidies and issues, but these were official government documents rather than independent academic works. Her post-tenure writings, such as the 2025 Foreign Affairs article "The Real Purpose of Trade Policy," advocate for subordinating trade liberalization to domestic labor and supply-chain resilience goals, critiquing neoliberal approaches for exacerbating inequality without empirical justification for their growth claims. This piece, while influential in policy circles, aligns with practitioner-oriented analysis over rigorous econometric or legal scholarship. Tai's limited academic bibliography underscores a practitioner perspective, prioritizing causal mechanisms like non-market distortions in over abstract theorizing. Observers note that her enforcement-focused background informed USTR strategies, such as Section 301 tariffs, but lacked the formalized publication record typical of trade economists or professors. This contrasts with predecessors like , who co-authored books on trade deficits, highlighting Tai's emphasis on operational implementation over published theory.

Public Speeches and Statements

In June 2021, Tai delivered remarks at the Economic Club outlining the Biden-Harris administration's worker-centered policy, which she described as prioritizing , environmental standards, and equitable growth over traditional metrics of . She argued that such an approach would expand business opportunities by enhancing worker security, stating, "A worker-centered policy seeks to expand opportunities for businesses by expanding economic security for workers here at home." In October 2021, Tai addressed the evolution of U.S. trade strategy toward in prepared remarks, characterizing the bilateral relationship as "one of profound consequence" and advocating a multifaceted approach that extended beyond tariffs to include export controls, investment screening, and alliances with like-minded partners. She emphasized reviewing the Phase One agreement's implementation while pursuing broader economic decoupling from non-market practices, noting the need for "a new way forward" that integrated domestic with international coordination. Tai's June 2023 speech at the National Press Club focused on , critiquing globalization's emphasis on efficiency at the expense of security and calling for policies that "de-risk" dependencies on adversarial suppliers, particularly in critical sectors like semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. She highlighted the vulnerabilities exposed by the and advocated "friend-shoring" to trusted allies, stating that U.S. agenda would prioritize "resilience in the global economy" through targeted investments and regulatory measures. In September 2023 remarks on the , Tai defended while pushing for reforms to address deficiencies in dispute settlement and subsidies rules, asserting that the WTO must evolve to counter state-directed distortions without undermining U.S. . She reiterated commitment to the organization's core principles but criticized its inability to enforce rules against non-market economies, linking this to the need for "durable and equitable" trade outcomes. Tai issued statements in May 2024 recommending modifications to Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports, proposing increases on strategic goods like electric vehicles, , and semiconductors to counter unfair practices including intellectual property theft and overcapacity. She framed these as targeted responses directed by President Biden, aimed at protecting U.S. industries while expanding enforcement resources.

Post-Tenure Activities

Speaking and Advisory Roles

Following her tenure as U.S. Trade Representative ending on January 20, 2025, Katherine Tai was appointed a resident fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics (IOP) for Fall 2025, announced on August 25, 2025. In this capacity, she leads off-the-record study groups for students, sharing insights on trade policy, leadership in , and global derived from her experience negotiating U.S. trade agreements. Specific sessions include "Speaking Truth to Trade: Lessons from Wielding Power with Principle," held in October 2025, focusing on in trade enforcement; "What the [TARIFF] is Going On?," examining tariff strategies and their geopolitical implications; and "Trade Shaping a New World Order – View from ," addressing trade's role in emerging markets and migration dynamics, convened around October 21, 2025. Tai has also participated in public lectures and panels post-tenure. On September 5, 2025, she delivered remarks on U.S. trade policy to National Press Foundation fellows, emphasizing worker-centered approaches and . She served as a featured speaker at the Women's Roundtable event on October 22, 2025, sponsored by Vault Consulting and CEO Update, discussing leadership in . Additionally, she is scheduled for the Phillips Lecture at on November 9, 2025, covering U.S. trade strategies amid global shifts. Tai is represented by Leading Authorities, a speakers bureau, for keynotes on topics such as U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) reviews, implementation under evolving administrations, and trade's intersection with , positioning her as an advisor to corporate and policy audiences on these issues. No formal appointments for Tai have been publicly announced since January 2025, though her IOP fellowship involves mentoring emerging leaders on policy formulation, akin to advisory functions in an academic setting. Her engagements prioritize empirical analysis of trade outcomes, critiquing over-reliance on multilateral institutions when bilateral leverage yields measurable gains, such as in enforcement actions during her USTR term that recovered over $1 billion in duties from .

Academic Engagements

In August 2025, Katherine Tai was appointed as a resident fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics (IOP). This non-resident fellowship positions her to engage with students through seminars and discussions on , drawing on her prior service. As part of her fellowship, Tai leads a series of off-the-record study groups in fall 2025, focusing on trade policy, , and . These sessions feature guest experts and emphasize practical analysis over partisan advocacy, covering topics such as U.S. trade with , manufacturing competitiveness (e.g., "What's the Point of Making T-Shirts in America?"), the interplay of trade and antitrust policy with figures like Chair , and global trade dynamics from perspectives including South Africa's post-apartheid economy. Events occur weekly, such as the September 25, 2025, session on trade and manufacturing, fostering interactive dialogue for undergraduate and graduate participants. The IOP study groups align with Tai's expertise in worker-centered enforcement, though they remain exploratory rather than formal coursework, prioritizing candid exchange over graded instruction. No additional university teaching roles or peer-reviewed academic appointments for Tai have been reported as of October 2025.

References

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  36. https://www.bdo.com/insights/tax/ustr-finalizes-section-301-tariff-hikes-on-chinese-imports
  37. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2021/december/statement-ambassador-katherine-tai-passage-uyghur-forced-labor-prevention-act
  38. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2023/august/forced-labor-enforcement-task-force-publishes-updated-uyghur-forced-labor-prevention-act-strategy
  39. https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2022/01/ustr-announces-development-of-a-trade-strategy-to-combat-forced-labor
  40. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2024/december/ustr-initiates-section-301-investigation-chinas-acts-policies-and-practices-related-targeting
  41. https://www.finance.senate.gov/download/3312022-tai-testimony
  42. https://arrington.house.gov/uploadedfiles/5-24-2024_letter_on_ustr_on_301_actions.pdf
  43. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/speeches-and-remarks/2023/september/remarks-ambassador-katherine-tai-world-trade-organization-and-multilateral-trading-system
  44. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/speeches-and-remarks/2021/october/ambassador-katherine-tais-remarks-prepared-delivery-world-trade-organization
  45. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2023/april/ambassador-tai-signs-us-instrument-acceptance-wto-agreement-fisheries-subsidies-alongside-wto
  46. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-drops-digital-trade-demands-wto-allow-room-stronger-tech-regulation-2023-10-25/
  47. https://prosperousamerica.org/ustr-katherine-tai-says-u-s-will-no-longer-support-wto-data-storage-proposal/
  48. https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2022/05/23/on-the-record-press-call-on-the-launch-of-the-indo-pacific-economic-framework/
  49. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2022/september/remarks-ambassador-katherine-tai-indo-pacific-economic-framework-ministerial-closing-press
  50. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2023/may/united-states-host-indo-pacific-economic-framework-ministerial-detroit
  51. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12373
  52. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/speeches-and-remarks/2024/may/remarks-ambassador-katherine-tai-usmca-free-trade-commission-meeting
  53. https://insidetrade.com/daily-news/tai-usmca-review-should-ensure-deal-benefits-those-left-behind-trade
  54. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/usmca-at-3-reflecting-on-impact-and-charting-the-future/
  55. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/speeches-and-remarks/2021/june/remarks-ambassador-katherine-tai-outlining-biden-harris-administrations-worker-centered-trade-policy
  56. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2024/april/fact-sheet-third-year-ambassador-katherine-tai-delivers-biden-harris-administrations-worker-centered
  57. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/speeches-and-remarks/2023/june/ambassador-katherine-tais-remarks-national-press-club-supply-chain-resilience
  58. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2025/january/ustr-releases-first-ever-trade-strategy-combat-forced-labor
  59. https://www.factcheck.org/2025/10/bidens-final-numbers/
  60. https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/balance-of-trade
  61. https://www.bluegreenalliance.org/resources/new-report-compares-us-manufacturing-record-of-biden-harris-and-trump-administrations/
  62. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
  63. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmblr/vol12/iss2/2/
  64. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2024/december/united-states-prevails-usmca-dispute-biotech-corn
  65. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-trade-deficit-how-much-does-it-matter?
  66. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/03/katherine-tai-free-trade-00104483
  67. https://www.uschamber.com/international/trade-agreements/setting-the-record-straight-on-foreign-trade-barriers
  68. https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024/03/ustrs-trade-barrier-report-deepens-feud-with-business-community-00149779?source=email
  69. https://www.mainepotatoes.com/article/npc-agriculture-industry-groups-raise-alarm-on-u-s-mexico-trade-relationship/
  70. https://capitalpress.com/2021/03/22/farm-groups-concerned-with-mexicos-growing-trade-barriers/
  71. https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2021/03/22/farm-ag-groups-tell-tai-vilsack
  72. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2023/august/what-they-are-saying-us-establishes-usmca-dispute-panel-mexicos-agricultural-biotechnology-measures
  73. https://netchoice.org/how-bidens-trade-representative-is-undermining-american-national-interests/
  74. https://ielp.worldtradelaw.net/2024/03/resolving-the-biden-administrations-internal-debate-on-international-digital-rules-and-reengaging-in/
  75. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ustr-deputy-bianchi-depart-top-trade-official-asia-2024-01-19/
  76. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2024/january/ustr-announces-departure-heather-hurlburt-chief-staff
  77. https://prospect.org/2024/01/29/2024-01-29-politicos-hit-job-trade-rep-katherine-tai/
  78. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/real-purpose-trade-policy
  79. https://ielp.worldtradelaw.net/2023/09/katherine-tai-on-chinese-non-market-practices-and-wto-dispute-settlement/
  80. https://www.cato.org/publications/how-trade-agreements-have-enhanced-freedom-prosperity-americans
  81. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/speeches-and-remarks/2021/october/remarks-prepared-delivery-ambassador-katherine-tai-outlining-biden-harris-administrations-new
  82. https://iop.harvard.edu/press-releases/harvards-institute-politics-announces-fall-2025-fellows
  83. https://insidetrade.com/trade/former-ustr-tai-named-harvard-fellow
  84. https://iop.harvard.edu/events/study-group-ambassador-katherine-tai-speaking-truth-trade-lessons-wielding-power-principle
  85. https://iop.harvard.edu/events/study-group-ambassador-katherine-tai-what-tariff-going
  86. https://iop.harvard.edu/events/study-group-ambassador-katherine-tai-trade-shaping-new-world-order-view-south-africa
  87. https://nationalpress.org/topic/katherine-tai-transcript-trade-ambassador/
  88. https://www.vaultconsulting.com/womens-roundtable-oct-2025
  89. https://calendar.duke.edu/show?fq=id%253ACAL-8a0183a7-83184018-0184-39add07f-0000671fdemobedework%2540mysite.edu
  90. https://www.leadingauthorities.com/speakers/katherine-tai
  91. https://www.hks.harvard.edu/events/amb-katherine-tai-study-group-us-trade-china-just-facts-please
  92. https://iop.harvard.edu/events/study-group-ambassador-katherine-tai-new-schools-thought-trade-and-antitrust
  93. https://calendar.college.harvard.edu/event/study-group-with-ambassador-katherine-tai-trade-and-manufacturing-whats-the-point-of-making-t-shirts-in-america
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