International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce

R. Matthew Priest

Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Textiles and Apparel

Matt Priest, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel, oversees programs and strategies to improve the domestic and international competitiveness of the U.S. fiber, textiles, apparel, footwear, and travel goods industries. Mr. Priest also serves as Chairman of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), which determines when market-disrupting factors exist in the domestic fiber, textiles and apparel marketplace. Previously, Priest served as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Import Administration at the Department of Commerce, where he advised the assistant secretary on textile and trade issues.

Prior to joining the Department of Commerce, Priest served as Legislative Director for Representative Sue Myrick of North Carolina, where he was an advisor in the areas of textiles, trade and economic development.

Mr. Priest earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Springfield, Virginia.