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- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
The White House on Friday announced that President Joe Biden plans to appoint the top executive of the nation's premier organization focused on American Indian and Alaska Native economic development to the federal Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.
In a news release, the White House said Chris James (Cherokee), the president and CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, is one of nine executives Biden intends to appoint to the advisory committee, which was established to provide overall policy advice to the United States Trade Representative on matters arising in connection with the development, implementation, and administration of the trade policy of the United States.
The advisory committee will provide advice on negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before entering into trade agreements, the impact of the implementation of trade agreements, matters concerning the operation of any trade agreement once entered into, and other matters arising in connection with the development, implementation, and administration of the trade policy of the United States, according to the White House statement.
James brings a range of experience to the trade policy committee. He served as a senior official at the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Treasury Department for more than eight years before joining the National Center as its president and CEO in 2017. the premier organization focused on American Indian and Alaska Native economic development. James is an expert in the Indigenous economy, Native American policy, supply chains, and rural economic development.
Under his leadership, the National Center tripled its revenue and expanded its reach significantly. James spearheads the Reservation Economic Summit (RES), the world's largest conference focused on Native American economic development, as well as a number of programs that equip Native business owners with training and services related to federal contracting, small-business development, and tribal econmic development.
Over the past three years, James has also led an effort at the National Center to help Native-owned businesses reach new, international markets. In 2021, the National Center established The National Center-operated Arizona Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Export Center, and is helping minority-owned businesses begin and grow their export operations.
“It's truly an honor to serve the Biden administration in this capacity. I am deeply committed to supporting innovative trade strategies that will strengthen both our Native and national economies," James said in an email on Saturday. “American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian business owners should have access to international markets and the policies governing international trade. I will use this position to ensure our community always has a seat at the table for these discussions.”
Next month, James will preside over the annual RES conference in Las Vegas, March 11-14, 2024.
Levi Rickert provided additional reporting on this story.
