Jul 23, 2025Ag policy veteran nominated as USTR chief agricultural negotiator
Julie Callahan, a nine-year veteran of the Office of Agricultural Affairs, has been nominated to serve as the chief agricultural negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
The position has been vacant since Doug McKalip resigned before Donald Trump took office.
Callahan has held multiple positions in the Office of Agricultural Affairs and served as the assistant USTR for agricultural affairs and commodity policy since April 2020.
“Ambassador-nominee Callahan is an outstanding selection for this role. We have worked extensively with her over the years,” Kam Quarles, National Potato Council CEO, said in a statement. “Her negotiating talents and technical skills are tremendous. We strongly urge the Senate to rapidly confirm Ms. Callahan to this important post for U.S. agriculture.”
Callahan has supported an approach to trade policy that includes a focus on narrower, sector-specific agreements instead of slow-to-negotiate broad free trade agreements, according to NPC.
