Jim Leonard, U.S. Department of Commerce’s Chief Trade Negotiator and Textile TreatyAdministrator to Join International Market Solutions

James C. Leonard III (Jim), who recently stepped down as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles, Apparel and Consumer Goods, has agreed to join International Market Solutions (IMS), LLC as Senior Advisor and Associate. IMS, a management consulting firm, is principally involved in putting businesses into the international market arena—or expanding their global presence—on a cost-efficient basis. IMS provides a wide range of critical services, such as market research, marketing and sales, and project management and finance.

“We are indeed fortunate to bring on a person of Jim Leonard’s experience and knowledge in the international field,” states Jorman Fields, IMS Managing Director. Fields adds, “In particular, I can’t think of anyone more qualified in the area of textile trade treaties and trade negotiations. Jim’s presence will add a major dimension to IMS client services.”

In explaining his decision, Jim Leonard states, “I am impressed with IMS’s strategic direction and purpose. It’s a company dedicated to motivating clients to think more globally and helping them to achieve that goal. This is a vision I share. And, of course, I have known Jorman Fields for many years and greatly admire his business acumen. I’m also impressed with the overall caliber of the IMS management, its advisors and associates.”

Leonard left the Department of Commerce at the end of September, where he was the Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel and Chairman of the Interagency Committee on the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA). Most recently he and his staff successfully negotiated safeguard quotas on Chinese textile and apparel products, after two years of sometimes frustrating discussions with the Chinese.

In 2000, Jim Leonard started a consulting business after working for Burlington Industries for over 34 years—20 of those in the international trade area. His most recent position at Burlington was Director of Government Relations. While at Burlington, he served on a number of industry and government advisory committees. He was a cleared advisor to the government involving textile bilateral and multilateral trade issues and served as an advisor for the NAFTA and WTO agreements. He participated in the actual WTO negotiations as a part of the Uruguay Round at the request of the U.S. Government.

Jim was appointed by President George W. Bush in early 2002 to serve as the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) of Commerce, with responsibility for textiles, apparel and consumer goods. He served in that capacity from March 2002 until stepping down in September 2006.

Going forward,” states Jorman Fields, “we see Jim as providing IMS internally and, of course, IMS clients, with critical advice and direction with regard to the intricacies of international trade agreements and how such agreements will affect their business—not only with regard to textile-related industries, but including many other product areas as well. Jim is also highly knowledgeable in the realm of governmental policy development, both in the United States and abroad.”