For Immediate Release:January 9, 2006
Contact:Victoria
Park (202) 482-3809
International Trade Administration Welcomes New Senior
Officials
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Under Secretary of Commerce for International
Trade Franklin L. Lavin welcomes three senior officials to the International
Trade Administration (ITA). Michelle O’Neill has assumed the position
of Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade. David Bohigian is the
new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance and
David Spooner is the new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Import Administration.
Spooner and Bohigian were confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 17,
2005.
“ITA is fortunate to gain the leadership and expertise of O’Neill,
Bohigian and Spooner,” said Lavin. “They will be tremendous
assets to the Department and this Administration as we carry forward the
President’s vision to grow the economy and create American jobs by
lowering trade barriers for American companies and fostering U.S. competitiveness
in international trade.”
Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Michelle
O’Neill was named Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade
in November 2005. In this capacity, she oversees the daily operations
of the International Trade Administration (ITA), which has an annual budget
of $400 million and 2300 employees. O’Neill returns to ITA with an
impressive professional record and a long history of government service,
including 17 years of prior ITA service. Before rejoining the ITA leadership
team, O’Neill served as Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology.
Beginning in July 2004, O’Neill served as the chief operating officer
of the Technology Administration, which includes the National Institute
of Standards and Technology.
Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance David Bohigian
will lead his Market Access and Compliance team in obtaining market access
for American firms and workers and ensuring that foreign governments fully
comply with more than 250 trade agreements. Assistant Secretary Bohigian
also chairs the Department's Iraq and Afghanistan Reconstruction Task
Forces, which provide information and resources to businesses interested
in participating in reconstruction efforts and commerce in these two countries.
Bohigian previously served as the Director of the Office of Policy and
Strategic Planning at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He focused on economic
and fiscal policy, as well as energy, manufacturing, trade, and financial
services.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Import Administration David Spooner
will lead the Import Administration in its efforts to enforce trade laws
and agreements to protect U.S. businesses from unfair competition within
the United States resulting from unfair pricing by foreign companies and
unfair subsidies to foreign companies by their governments. Prior to his
Commerce appointment, Assistant Secretary Spooner served as the U.S. Government
Textile Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. He
was responsible for trade negotiations involving textiles and apparel,
working to expand American industry access to overseas markets.