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USTR SHUFFLES OFFICE ORGANIZATION 

WASHINGTON, DC - The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) has created a separate and expanded Office of China Affairs to accommodate an increase in staff dedicated to China trade issues. 

Congress provided additional funds to USTR for this purpose under the provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004. 

The new Office of China Affairs will be responsible for trade with the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, and Mongolia.

Charles Freeman will lead the office as Acting Assistant US Trade Representative (AUSTR) for China Affairs. Since April 2002, he has handled the China portfolio as a Deputy AUSTR within the North Asia office.

At the same time, AUSTR Wendy Cutler will head a new office overseeing US trade relations with Japan and Korea, the fourth and seventh largest US trading partners respectively. 

In addition, Cutler will have responsibility for US trade issues within the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, following APEC's next ministerial in June 2004.

With new funding from Congress, the USTR is adding additional staff to handle China issues, including several new attorneys in the General Counsel's office; a number of new staffers to man the China Office; a specialist in Chinese intellectual property issues; and an additional staffer to handle manufacturing issues with China; as well as others.

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