Matt Priest, a former legislative aide to Rep Sue Myrick, R-N.C., who has considerable experience
dealing with trade issues, has been named Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel at
the Department of Commerce’s Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA). In that position, Priest will
be the point man for carrying out the US government’s textile trade programs. He succeeds James C.
Leonard, who left that post in September 2006.
In addition to playing a role in developing trade policies, Priest will serve as chairman of
the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), an interagency committee charged
with monitoring and implementing textile and apparel trade agreements. The assistant secretary also
performs research and analyses, compiles industry data and promotes US trade events involving
textiles and apparel.
In announcing the appointment, Commerce Under Secretary for International Trade Frank Lavin
said: “Matt Priest provides sound advice and key insight regarding textile and apparel issues and
is a welcome addition to OTEXA. His knowledge of trade issues and industry concerns will offer a
smooth transition so we can continue to work on behalf of the textile and apparel industries.”
Priest has been serving as a senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration at the Commerce Department, a position held currently held by David Spooner, a
former textile negotiator in the Office of the US Trade Representative. As a former legislative
director for Rep. Myrick, Priest was an advisor in the areas of textiles, trade and economic
development.”
One of Priest’s most important initial tasks will be the development of procedures for
enforcing the administration’s commitment to monitor Vietnam trade, in order to ensure that there
are no unfair trade practices when import quotas are removed.
January 16, 2007
