ANSI Caucus to address EU law and non-European SDOs.
Press Release Summary:
Scheduled for Nov 7, 2009, ANSI Caucus Luncheon will feature guest speaker James Mendenhall, partner in International Trade and Dispute Resolution group in law firm of Sidley Austin LLP in Washington, D.C. Presentation will focus on key challenges faced by non-European standards developing organizations under European Union law. Mr. Mendenhall has served as General Counsel of Office of USTR as well as principal U.S. negotiator of United States-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement.
Original Press Release:
November ANSI Caucus to Address EU Law and Non-European SDOs
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has announced that the next monthly ANSI Caucus Luncheon will be held on Friday, November 7, 2008. The meeting will feature guest speaker James Mendenhall, partner in the International Trade and Dispute Resolution group in the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Mendenhall's presentation will focus on key challenges faced by non-European standards developing organizations (SDOs) under European Union law.
Prior to his position at Sidley Austin LLP, Mr. Mendenhall served as the General Counsel of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). In that capacity, Mr. Mendenhall supervised U.S. participation in World Trade Organization (WTO) and NAFTA disputes and handled all legal aspects of U.S. bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade negotiations.
Mr. Mendenhall also served as the principal U.S. negotiator of the United States-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement and was the USTR representative on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
As the Assistant United States Trade Representative (AUSTR) for Services, Investment and Intellectual Property from 2003 to 2005, Mr. Mendenhall oversaw bilateral and regional trade agreement negotiations dealing with services (including financial services), investment, and intellectual property, as well as WTO negotiations related to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and WTO agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). He was also responsible for monitoring the adoption and enforcement of laws to protect the rights of U.S. owners of intellectual property in countries around the world.
Mr. Mendenhall has testified before Congress on multiple occasions related to free trade agreement negotiations, intellectual property protection in foreign markets, trade in services and financial services, and other matters.
The November Caucus is sponsored by ASTM International, an ANSI member and audited designator.
The caucus will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the National Press Club (529 14th Street, NW, 13th Floor, Zenger Room). RSVPs are requested by Monday, November 3, 2008.
To RSVP, communicate special dietary requests, or for more information on caucus luncheons, please contact Meghan Silver (msilver@ansi.org; 202.331.3603).
