Barath Harithas

Senior Fellow, Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business
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Barath Harithas

Barath Harithas is a senior fellow in the Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, focusing on issues at the intersection of national security, trade, and technology. He has held diverse public service roles in Singapore spanning the U.S.-China relationship, international trade, and AI standards. He began his career in the Singapore Foreign Service focusing on key flashpoints in the U.S.-China rivalry, such as the South China Sea conflict, the trade war, and escalating AI competition. He was subsequently a trade negotiator and was on the policy team for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the largest and most ambitious free trade agreement signed to date. Most recently, Barath led the development of AI and cybersecurity standards in Singapore and has led engagements with various international organizations including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, G20, World Trade Organization, International Organization for Standardization, and International Electrotechnical Commission. In addition, as a key founding member of the first and only pan-Asian trade association, he advocated on a range of digital issues for its 3,000 members across 29 Asia-Pacific countries. Prior to his public service stint, Barath served in the Singapore Armed Forces as a captain. He has a BA in political science from the National University of Singapore and an MPP from Harvard Kennedy School, where he was a John F. Kennedy Fellow, Belfer Young Leader, and Fulbright scholar.

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