International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce

Stephen P. Jacobs

Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Market Access and Compliance

Mr. Jacobs is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance where he is responsible in the International Trade Administration for managing the day-to-day operations of the Market Access and Compliance bureau of nearly 200 country desk officers and trade policy specialists, and coordinating Commerce Department participation in the development of U.S. trade policy. In addition to regional units, MAC includes the Trade Compliance Center. Working with other agencies, MAC analyzes market access and compliance problems and takes action to resolve identified problems.

Previously, Mr. Jacobs served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Trade Agreements and Compliance, where he managed the trade compliance program, the Office of Intellectual Property Rights, and coordinated the Department’s policy towards issues arising in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Trade Organization, including coordination of Commerce contributions to the new round of negotiations launched at Doha in 2001.

He also was Director, Office of Inter-American Affairs, in the U.S. Department of Commerce where he was responsible for developing Departmental policy affecting trade and investment with the Latin America region, including the Free Trade Area of the Americas negotiations, Summit of the Americas implementation and negotiations with regional groups. Mr. Jacobs directed the Trade Policy Division of the Office of Mexico at Commerce and was part of the U.S. NAFTA negotiating team as deputy negotiator for automotive issues.

Mr. Jacobs has been in federal service since 1978, serving in a variety of trade policy and Western Hemisphere positions at Commerce. In the Office of Canada he was Director of the Trade Policy Division and a member of the U.S. Delegation that negotiated the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement.

He received the Presidential Meritorious Executive Award in 2004 for sustained superior accomplishment. He also received the Department's Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals for achievements during his Commerce career. He was educated at the University of California at Davis and at The George Washington University in Washington D.C.