September 12, 2023 (Alexandria, Va.)—American Peanut Council President and CEO Richard Owen has been named to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC), which serves the U.S. Agriculture Department and the U.S. Trade Representative. Owen joins the 36-member roster of national agriculture leaders that are responsible for providing advice to USDA and USTR on policy affecting U.S. agricultural trade. Trade advisors are selected for four-year terms.
“Export promotion of peanuts and market development make up a large slice of the American Peanut Council’s work; this opportunity to serve USDA and USTR as a trade advisor goes hand-in-hand with that mission,” said Owen. “Anytime we can encourage global consumption of U.S. agricultural products, especially peanuts, and provide insight that could help open additional markets or reduce barriers is a win-win.”
Aside from his work at APC, Owen has significant global business and trade experience from his 11 years at the Produce Marketing Association and his tenure at USTR, where he served as director of agricultural affairs. While at USTR he managed a portfolio that included Russia and Eastern Europe, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Israel. He led U.S. negotiations on agricultural market access and sanitary and phytosanitary issues with more than 10 countries acceding to the World Trade Organization. He also served as the USTR delegate to two significant international trade agencies: the WTO Committee on Agriculture and Codex Alimentarius, the international food safety organization.
