THIS IS AN ARCHIVED SITE
This site contains information from January 2009-December 2014. Click HERE to go the CURRENT commerce.gov website.

Francisco J. Sánchez Takes Lead at International Trade Administration as Under Secretary of Commerce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, March 29, 2010

CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

202-482-4883

Francisco J. Sánchez Takes Lead at International Trade Administration as Under Secretary of Commerce

Contact: Mary Trupo
Phone: 202-482-3809

Today, Francisco J. Sánchez joined President Obama’s trade policy team as Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade after receiving a recess appointment from the president. Sánchez will direct the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA), the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace.

“Francisco Sánchez will be an effective advocate for U.S. industry as we work together to expand exports of American-made goods and services and meet President Obama’s goal of doubling exports in the next five years," U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. "Sánchez’s leadership will help us carry out the recently announced National Export Initiative, which will expand export promotion efforts and lead to the creation of new jobs and economic growth."

As Under Secretary, Sánchez leads an organization that supports efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promotes trade and investment, and ensures compliance with trade laws and agreements. ITA’s mission to help create jobs through trade has been enhanced by President Obama’s National Export Initiative.

“We should not underestimate the role of exports in creating and sustaining jobs,” Sánchez said. “It is our plan to leverage all of the resources of ITA and to expand commercial diplomacy tools to increase exports, thus creating and sustaining jobs in America.”

Sánchez’s major priorities for ITA include targeting opportunities for American business expansion in emerging international markets; increasing the export capacities of all U.S. businesses, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises; capitalizing on U.S. advances in emerging technologies; and vigorously enforcing trade laws that will allow U.S. businesses to compete fairly in global markets.

As a senior policy advisor to President Obama during the 2008 campaign, Sánchez served as the chairman of the National Hispanic Leadership Council and also provided policy support on issues pertaining to Latin America. Sánchez now brings his wide range of experience in both the federal and state government, as well as the private sector, to his leadership position at ITA.

Sánchez served as a senior advisor to Commerce Secretary Locke on international trade issues. He also served as the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation during the Clinton administration, where he developed aviation policy and oversaw international negotiations. Sánchez had previously served in the White House as a Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the Special Envoy to the Americas, Kenneth MacKay, where he focused on economic integration and democracy issues throughout the Western Hemisphere. He began his career in government working as Director of Florida’s Caribbean Basin Initiative Program for then Governor Bob Graham.

A Florida native, Sánchez obtained his B.A. and J.D. from Florida State University. He also received a Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Sánchez has published articles and taught negotiation and conflict resolution at Harvard Law School’s Program of Instruction for Lawyers, as well as other institutions.