Christopher A. Padilla

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Acting Under Secretary Chris Padilla
Acting Under Secretary Chris Padilla

Christopher A. Padilla is the Acting Under Secretary for International Trade within the United States Department of Commerce. He was appointed to the position on September 25, 2007, and he had been nominated to be Under Secretary for International Trade on September 4. Since 2002, Christopher Padilla has worked within the Bush administration with a focus on international trade and economic issues. On September 29, 2006, he was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration by the U.S. Senate.[1]

From 2005 to 2006, he had served as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick, with a particular focus on U.S.-China policy, Latin America, Sudan, and international economic matters. From 2002 to 2005, Padilla was Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison, and he was heavily involved in building support for the Central American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement, and several other trade agreements and initiatives.[1]

Before working for the American government, Under Secretary Padilla held several international positions at AT&T and Lucent Technologies, including marketing, business development, and government affairs. Later, he was Director of International Trade Relations at Eastman Kodak Company. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree.[1]

[edit] Department of Commerce

[edit] Assistant Secretary for Exports Administration

As Assistant Secretary for Exports Administration, Christopher Padilla gave a speech in December 2006 warning the United Arab Emirates that it may take action against them if it fails to halt the flow of technology to Iran and Syria that can be used to make improvised bombs.[2] After the Chinese military launched a missile against one of its own satellites, he said, "Even as we work to encourage China's peaceful development and civilian trade, we must also hedge our relations with China."[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c "trade.gov - Christopher A. Padilla". Retrieved on September 26, 2007.
  2. ^ "US rejects reaching out to Syria and Iran". Retrieved on September 27, 2007.
  3. ^ Buckley, Chris. "China satellite test justifies trade controls: U.S. official", The Washington Post, January 26, 2007.