FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2005
Contact: Cara Santos Pianesi, 202/939-2211, csantos@CarnegieEndowment.org
Viji Rangaswami has joined the Carnegie Endowment as an associate in the Trade, Equity, and Development Project, announced Carnegie President Jessica Mathews. She was formerly minority trade counsel to the Committee on the Ways and Means in the U.S. House of Representatives. Her work at Carnegie will focus on how multilateral and regional trade agreements, as well as unilateral preference programs, can promote development, particularly among the least developed countries.
“We are delighted that Viji has joined the Endowment. Her firsthand experience in the U.S. government on recent trade agreements and policy will help increase the impact of our trade work,” said Mathews.
Rangaswami served for six years as minority trade counsel to the Committee. She played a key role in legislation granting permanent normal trade relations status to China and extending unilateral trade preferences to various regions, including sub-Saharan Africa.
Rangaswami also worked with both the Clinton and Bush Administrations to implement major trade initiatives, including free trade agreements with Jordan, Chile, Singapore, Australia, and Morocco. She provided oversight and advice to members of Congress on ongoing trade negotiations, with particular emphasis on the Doha Round, the FTAA, Central America, and the Southern African Customs Union. She also advised members on issues such as textiles and apparel trade, intellectual property rights, unfair trade practices, WTO dispute settlement, and customs administration.
Before joining the Ways and Means staff, Rangaswami was an associate at the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, working in the area of international trade. She also has served as a visiting lecturer at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School.
###