Michael Froman

Ambassador Michael Froman is the president of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), dedicated to elevating Americans’ participation in matters related to trade and foreign policy decisions. He formerly served as the 17th United States Trade Representative, sworn in under President Obama in 2013. In this capacity, he served in the Cabinet as President Obama’s principal advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on international trade and investment issues. He also led the Office of the United States Trade Representative in its work to open global markets for U.S. goods and services, enforcing America’s rights in the global trading system and fostering development through trade.

Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Ambassador Froman discusses America’s role in the world and the linkages between U.S. economic and strategic interests. He is well positioned to discuss the evolution of international economic policy, foreign policy and national security, coming out of Washington and its effect on business interests domestically and around the world.

Key initiatives undertaken at the Office of the United States Trade Representative under Ambassador Froman’s leadership included the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement in the Asia Pacific, negotiations toward a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union, and the negotiation of agreements on trade facilitation, agriculture, and information technology products at the World Trade Organization. He also oversaw the monitoring and enforcement of U.S. trade rights, and played a pivotal role in the passage of Trade Promotion Authority, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Generalized System of Preferences program, and the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act. He expertly addresses how policies affect not only American interests but also the futures of Europe, Latin America, Africa, China and other parts of Asia.

Before his appointment as Trade Representative, Ambassador Froman served in the White House from January 2009 to June 2013 as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs. In this role, he was responsible for coordinating policies on international trade, finance, energy, climate change, and development issues. He served as the U.S. Sherpa for the G20 and G8 Summits and staffed the President during the APEC Leaders Meetings. Additionally, he chaired or co-chaired several important forums, including the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, the Transatlantic Economic Council, the U.S.-India CEO Forum, and the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum. He also played a key role in launching several of the Obama administration’s development initiatives, such as Power Africa and Trade Africa, and previously held various high-level roles at Citigroup.

From 2001 until 2009, Ambassador Froman held various leadership roles at Citigroup, including Chief Executive Officer of its international insurance business, Chief Operating Officer of its alternative investments business, and head of its infrastructure investment fund. Before that, he spent seven years in the U.S. government under President Clinton, where he served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Eurasia and the Middle East at the U.S. Department of Treasury. He also held the position of Director for International Economic Affairs at both the National Security Council and the National Economic Council. In addition, Froman was a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a Resident Fellow at the German Marshall Fund. In 2018, he joined Mastercard as Vice Chairman and President of Strategic Growth, where he focuses on developing solutions for governments and other enterprises, launching new businesses, and driving financial inclusion and inclusive growth efforts.

In the 1990s, Ambassador Froman spent seven years in the U.S. government, serving as Chief of Staff and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Eurasia and the Middle East at the U.S. Department of Treasury, and as a Director for International Economic Affairs at both the National Security Council and National Economic Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University, a doctorate in International Relations from Oxford University, and a law degree from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.

An accomplished author, he has published a book and several articles on international relations, international law, and trade. He has also received numerous fellowships and scholarships, including a White House Fellowship, a Ford Foundation Fellowship in International Law, a Social Science Research Council/MacArthur Foundation Fellowship in International Peace and Security, and a Fulbright Scholarship. In 2016, he was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of “The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders” and by Politico as one of the “50 thinkers, doers and visionaries shaping American politics.”

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