International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce

Lori Harju

Director
for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

Lori Harju was appointed by President Bush to serve as Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs in the Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade in March 2004. In this capacity, she oversees all aspects of congressional relations and coordinates with the White House and other Federal Agencies on international trade issues.

Prior to joining the International Trade Administration, Ms. Harju served as the executive director of two non-profit research and public policy organizations. In these roles, she directed all daily management, financial, and policy activities which included international policy conferences and panels on international trade, biotechnology, energy, health, human trafficking, and e-commerce attended by Members of Congress, Administration and foreign officials, and business leaders.

Ms. Harju also worked on Capitol Hill managing a variety of legislative issues for three senior Members of the House Committee on Ways and Means, including U.S. Representatives Philip M. Crane (R-IL), then-Chairman of the Trade Subcommittee; Dave Camp (R-MI); and Guy Vander Jagt (R-MI). During her Congressional staff career, she was involved in drafting, promoting and strategic planning for passage of normal-trade-relations for China, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Caribbean Basin Initiative II, and other important trade legislation.

Ms. Harju is a native of Kaleva, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Michigan State University.