WASHINGTON - U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman today thanked Ambassador Linnet Deily for her four years of outstanding service as the U.S. Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and announced that he will transfer Deputy USTR Peter Allgeier to Geneva to replace her. Ambassador Deily is returning to her home in Houston, Texas on June 15th. Ambassador Allgeier is expected to take up the post permanently in the Fall, but in the meantime will divide his time between Geneva and his current responsibilities in Washington until his successor is in place.

"Ambassador Deily has done a superlative job in representing the United States at the WTO. Because of her efforts, the United States is recognized for its leadership in launching the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations in November 2001, in advancing the Doha negotiations, and in strengthening the system of international trading rules and the WTO institution itself," said Ambassador Portman. "On behalf of President Bush, myself, and my predecessor, Robert Zoellick, I want to thank Ambassador Deily for her pragmatic, constructive approach to problem solving, her dignity and integrity as the U.S. representative, and her ability to work so effectively with the other 147 Members of the WTO. The citizens of the United States could not have had a better example of international leadership and cooperation than that provided by Ambassador Deily during her four years in Geneva. She will be missed, not only by all of us at USTR, but also by her colleagues among the other WTO ambassadors in Geneva. We wish the best of everything for her and her husband, Mike, as they return to Houston."

"I am very pleased that Ambassador Allgeier has agreed to succeed Ambassador Deily in Geneva. They have worked closely together on the Doha negotiations during the past four years. Ambassador Allgeier supervised the Washington end of the negotiations and served as the Senior capital-based Official in the negotiations," said Portman. "As a result, he is well-known at the WTO and will ensure that we have a seamless transition as we change our leadership in Geneva."

Until his successor as Deputy USTR in Washington is in place, Ambassador Allgeier will divide his time between Washington and Geneva. Once a successor is in place, Ambassador Allgeier will assume the Geneva post on a full-time basis, while maintaining his current role as U.S. Senior Official in the Doha Round negotiations. During the interim, Deputy Chief of Mission David Shark will serve as Charge d’affaires. Mr. Shark has more than 12 years of experience at the WTO, as well as 17 years of trade negotiating experience in Washington-based positions.