US firm Covington & Burling has secured Timothy Stratford’s services after he stepped down as assistant US trade representitive for China affairs. Stratford has joined the firm as a partner and is based in the Beijing office, which opened in mid-2008. He is a member of the firm’s international trade, IP and government affairs practice groups and focuses on advising international clients doing business in China, as well as on assisting Chinese companies seeking to expand their businesses globally.
Stratford is so far the most senior former US trade official to join the US business community in China. The country is not foreign to him, as he has lived and worked professionally in China for more than 25 years. During his tenure as United States Trade Representative (USTR), Stratford worked closely with senior government officials in the US and China in developing and implementing US-China trade policy and addressing problems encountered by companies engaged in bilateral trade and investment. Prior to this, Stratford served as general counsel for General Motors’ China operations. He also served previously as Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the US Embassy in Beijing, and as chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.
Stratford joins a team of former trade officials at Covington, including former deputy treasury secretary Stu Eizenstat, former deputy US trade representative John Veroneau, and former Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Al Larson.
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