OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C.
June 15, 2005

Portman Lauds Deily for Service as U.S. Ambassador to WTO

Portman Announces Allgeier Will Take Up Geneva Post


WASHINGTON - U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman today thanked
Ambassador Linnet Deily for her four years of outstanding service as the
U.S. Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and announced
that he will transfer Deputy USTR Peter Allgeier to Geneva to replace
her. Ambassador Deily is returning to her home in Houston, Texas on
June 15th. Ambassador Allgeier is expected to take up the post
permanently in the Fall, but in the meantime will divide his time
between Geneva and his current responsibilities in Washington until his
successor is in place.

"Ambassador Deily has done a superlative job in representing the United
States at the WTO. Because of her efforts, the United States is
recognized for its leadership in launching the Doha Round of
multilateral trade negotiations in November 2001, in advancing the Doha
negotiations, and in strengthening the system of international trading
rules and the WTO institution itself," said Ambassador Portman. "On
behalf of President Bush, myself, and my predecessor, Robert Zoellick, I
want to thank Ambassador Deily for her pragmatic, constructive approach
to problem solving, her dignity and integrity as the U.S.
representative, and her ability to work so effectively with the other
147 Members of the WTO. The citizens of the United States could not
have had a better example of international leadership and cooperation
than that provided by Ambassador Deily during her four years in Geneva.
She will be missed, not only by all of us at USTR, but also by her
colleagues among the other WTO ambassadors in Geneva. We wish the best
of everything for her and her husband, Mike, as they return to Houston."

"I am very pleased that Ambassador Allgeier has agreed to succeed
Ambassador Deily in Geneva. They have worked closely together on the
Doha negotiations during the past four years. Ambassador Allgeier
supervised the Washington end of the negotiations and served as the
Senior capital-based Official in the negotiations," said Portman. "As a
result, he is well-known at the WTO and will ensure that we have a
seamless transition as we change our leadership in Geneva."

Until his successor as Deputy USTR in Washington is in place, Ambassador
Allgeier will divide his time between Washington and Geneva. Once a
successor is in place, Ambassador Allgeier will assume the Geneva post
on a full-time basis, while maintaining his current role as U.S. Senior
Official in the Doha Round negotiations. During the interim, Deputy
Chief of Mission David Shark will serve as Charge d'affaires. Mr. Shark
has more than 12 years of experience at the WTO, as well as 17 years of
trade negotiating experience in Washington-based positions.

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