Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Michael J. Delaney Visits Bangladesh

October 21, 2009

Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Michael J. Delaney arrived on a five-day visit to Bangladesh October 18. During his visit, he will hold discussions with government officials on trade issues between the U.S. and Bangladesh. He will also take a tour of Chittagong and talk to both government and private sector officials there. This will be his first visit in Bangladesh.

• Remarks at the American Chamber Of Commerce Bangladesh (PDF 218KB)
• Remarks at the Policy Research Institute (PRI) (PDF 252KB)
• Biography of Michael J. Delaney Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South Asia

Biography of Michael J. Delaney Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South Asia

Mr. Delaney was appointed Assistant US Trade Representative for South Asia in September 2008. In this position, he is responsible for development of trade with the countries comprising South Asia -- India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka - as well as Iraq. Several trade initiatives fall under his purview, including the US proposal for creation of Regional Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in Afghanistan and certain regions of Pakistan.

Mr. Delaney is a commissioned Senior Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. Since entering the Foreign Service in 1982, much of his career has been devoted to the development of US trade. In Portugal (1983-85), he helped negotiate various tariff issues related to that country's accession to the European Union. In Brazil (1985-87), he was the lead State officer in several trade issues, including US trade actions involving Brazil's informatics and pharmaceuticals patent policies. In Geneva (1987-1990) with the GATT/WTO, he helped re-negotiate the WTO Government Procurement Code. Mr. Delaney also was a member of the US delegation that implemented the US-Japan Semiconductor Arrangement.

In Korea (1990-93), Mr. Delaney was responsible for managing many bilateral issues, including standards and intellectual property. In Finland (1994-98), he was the chief Embassy officer responsible for tariff negotiations related to that country's accession to the European Union. After serving for a year as Diplomat-in-Residence at the East-West Center in Hawaii, Mr. Delaney was appointed Economic Counselor at the US Embassy in Canberra, Australia, where he worked with Washington agencies in negotiating the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement (1999-2004). He played a similar role as Economic Counselor in Bangkok, Thailand (2004-2006) with the US-Thailand Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

Immediately prior to his appointment at USTR, Mr. Delaney served as US Political Adviser to NATO Southern Regional Command in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Michael Delaney is a graduate of Emory University (1975) and The University of Chicago (1979).