10 Facts About Katherine Tai

Katherine Chi Tai is an American lawyer who served as the 19th United States trade representative from March 18,2021, to January 20,2025.

Katherine Tai is a member of the Democratic Party and previously served as the chief trade counsel for the United States House Committee on Ways and Means.

Katherine Tai grew up in Washington, DC, and attended Sidwell Friends School.

Katherine Tai's parents, who are of Chinese descent from Jiangsu and Henan, were born in China, relocated to Taiwan in 1949 and later immigrated to the United States.

Katherine Tai went on to study at Harvard Law School, where she earned a Juris Doctor in 2001.

From 2007 to 2014, Katherine Tai served in the trade representative's Office of General Counsel, becoming chief counsel for China trade enforcement from 2011 until her departure.

Katherine Tai was nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to serve as trade representative in December 2020.

Katherine Tai has been described as both an "avowed progressive" and as a "consensus builder [who can] help bridge the Democratic Party's varying views on trade".

Hearings on Katherine Tai's nomination were held before the Senate Finance Committee on February 25,2021.

Katherine Tai was reported out of the committee by unanimous consent on March 3,2021.