Sapiro will depart trade office

A top U.S. trade official is leaving the Obama administration after more than four years of advocating for the nation’s robust agenda around the globe.

Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Miriam Sapiro, who has played a leading role in shaping and pushing through the nation’s ambitious trade agenda, will leave her position next month.

“Ambassador Sapiro has served the Obama Administration during a time of unprecedented dynamism in U.S. trade policy and established an impressive record of achievement,” U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said on Wednesday.  

{mosads}Sapiro briefly led the agency in between the tenure of former USTR Ron Kirk and Froman. 

Froman credit Sapiro for playing a prominent role in launching the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the 28-nation European Union, as well as implementing trade agreements with Panama and Colombia, establishing permanent normal trade relations with Russia and ramping up engagement in the Middle East. 

As the agency’s No. 2, Sapiro also has pressed for the USTR’s initiatives on services and investment, market access, intellectual property and labor.  

In addition, she has served on the board of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

She previously held positions with the State Department and in the Clinton administration.