Affirming American Leadership

CSIS Trade Commission

The CSIS Trade Commission on Affirming American Leadership is focused on developing a positive trade agenda for the United States. Since the end of the Second World War, the United States has wielded its unmatched economic strength with strong policy leadership as tools of international influence and American grand strategy. The U.S. has built global institutions, showcased the virtues of core American values, and spread peace and prosperity around the world. Today, nearly 20 years into the 21^st century, the world is being reshaped by accelerating technological advances and geopolitical shifts. At home, the United States faces growing economic inequality and rapidly changing workforce needs. Abroad, economic competitors are growing into rivals, threatening American economic leadership on the world stage. These developments create challenges to U.S. economic leadership with roots at home and abroad. CSIS has convened this high-level commission to examine these challenges and offer recommendations to cement American trade leadership in the 21^st century.

We need to get back to a pro-trade consensus. But it’ll take a fight.

Co-Chairs

Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky
Partner at WilmerHale; former USTR from 1997-2001

Senator William E. Brock
Former USTR from 1981-1985; Former Secretary of Labor from 1985-1987; U.S. Senator from Tennessee from 1971-1977; CSIS Counselor and Trustee

Mr. Frederick W. Smith
Chairman and CEO of FedEx Corporation; CSIS Trustee

Commissioners

Dr. Byron G. Auguste
CEO & CO-Founder, Opportunity@Work

Mr. Ajay Banga
CEO & President of Mastercard

Dr. Craig Barrett
Former Chairman & CEO of Intel Corporation from 1998-2009

Mr. Gary J. Baumgartner
President & CEO of GJB Inc.

Mr. Joshua Bolten
President & CEO of the Business Roundtable; Former White House Chief of Staff from 2006-2009

Ms. Joyce Chang
Chair of Global Research, J.P. Morgan

Mr. David Cohen
Partner at WilmerHale; Former Deputy Director of the CIA from 2015-2017

Mr. Zippy Duvall
President of the American Farm Bureau Federation

Mr. Evan Greenberg
CEO of Chubb Limited; CSIS Trustee

Ambassador Carla A. Hills
CEO of Hills & Co. Former USTR from 1989-1993; Former Secretary of Housing & Urban Development from 1975-1977; CSIS Counselor and Trustee

Ms. Thea Lee
President of the Economic Policy Institute

Dr. Richard Levin
Former President of Yale University from 1993-2013

Mr. W. James McNerney
Chairman of the President’s Export Council from 2010-2015; Senior Advisor with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice; Former Chairman, President & CEO of The Boeing Company from 2005-2015; CSIS Trustee

Mr. Henry H. McVey
Member & Head of Global Macro & Asset Allocation, CIO of KKR Balance Sheet, KKR

Mr. Michael J. Rogers
Former U.S. Representative (MI-08)

Ms. Kavita Shukla
Founder & CEO of FreshPaper

Mr. Jay Timmons
President & CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers

Dr. Laura D. Tyson
Distinguished Professor at the Hass School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley; former U.S. Council of Economic Advisers Chairwomen