President Bush has designated Jennifer A. Hillman, a Democrat of Indiana, as Vice Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) for the term June 17, 2002, through June 16, 2004.

Hillman has served as a Commissioner since August 4, 1998. She was appointed by President Clinton for a term expiring on December 16, 2006.

Prior to her ITC appointment, Hillman served as General Counsel for the United States Trade Representative (USTR) from 1995-1997, where she was responsible for a wide variety of trade matters, including all U.S. government submissions in dispute settlement cases pending before both the World Trade Organization and North American Free Trade Agreement panels, as well as all legal work done in connection with trade negotiations.

Prior to that position, she served as Chief Textile Negotiator with the Rank of Ambassador for the USTR. As Chief Textile Negotiator, Hillman was responsible for negotiating bilateral textile agreements with 38 countries in 1993-1994. Prior to joining the USTR, Hillman served as the Deputy Cluster Coordinator for Financial Institutions for the Presidential and Vice Presidential transition.

Before joining the transition, Hillman was the Legislative Director and Counsel to U.S. Senator Terry Sanford of North Carolina. On the Hill, she was responsible for all international trade issues, as well as matters coming before the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, including thrift banking securities, export control, international finance, and housing matters. She began her professional career as an international trade attorney in the Washington firm of Patton, Boggs, LLP.

Hillman is originally from South Bend, Indiana. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Master of Education degree in higher education administration from Duke University; she received her J.D. from Harvard Law School. She resides in Washington, DC, with her husband, Mitchell Berger, and two sons.

The ITC is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency that provides trade expertise to both the legislative and executive branches of government, determines the impact of imports on U.S. industries, and directs actions against certain unfair trade practices, such as patent, trademark, and copyright infringement. Commissioners are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for nine-year terms, unless they are appointed to fill unexpired terms. The Chairman and the Vice Chairman are designated by the President for two-year terms in those positions.