Bruce Harsh

About Bruce Harsh

Mr. Harsh brings more than 30 years of international trade experience to helping firms expand internationally and in resolving movement of goods and services issues that pertain to physical flows of e-commerce, air, sea, rail, and highway transportation modes. As the Director of the Supply Chain Team, he manages a broad portfolio of services and several advisory committees, including the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness. He and his team has an extensive understanding of numerous dynamics relating to issues about IT systems, retail, security, infrastructure, licensing, and sustainability. Mr. Harsh developed and led trade missions throughout the world, including Commerce’s first-ever retailing and franchising trade mission to China and direct marketing mission to Europe. He represented the Department of Commerce at various trade negotiations, including: the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement; U.S-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement; Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR); U.S-Chile Free Trade Agreement; as well as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, and World Trade Organization Working Group meetings. He has received numerous awards from the Department, including its Gold Medal award, for his work on reducing trade restrictions in distribution services. Mr. Harsh worked for a Fortune 100 company prior to joining the Department of Commerce. He majored in Economics and Political Science at the University of Richmond and received a master’s degree in International Transactions from George Mason University.

Experience

1. Director, Distribution and Supply Chain

   U.S. Department Of Commerce

   Dec 2007 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Manages all sectoral team activities concerning policy development, export trade advocacy, and industry analysis on distribution and supply chain matters. His team specializes in resolving issues concerning the movement of goods and services from the farm or factory to the business or consumer, including those involving air, sea, rail, trucking, and express delivery transportation modes, as well as those relating to numerous dynamics such as IT systems, retail, security, infrastructure, time and temperature sensitivities, and sustainability. • Small, medium and large companies have, and will continue to realize significant gains, from my being the Department of Commerce representative at various trade negotiations and advocate for industry interests, including: the trade talks currently underway for creating a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement; and previous negotiations establishing the U.S-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement; Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR); U.S-Chile Free Trade Agreement; World Trade Organization; and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum.• Currently serving as the Department’s representative to the Department of State’s Advisory Committee on International Postal and Delivery Services and was Commerce’s representative at the Universal Postal Union World Congress held in China. In both roles, promote and offered policies to ensure that our U.S. international postal operations and express delivery services are able to do business under more favorable competitive conditions.• As a senior specialist, participate in high-level consultations and provide extensive quantitative and qualitative economic analysis, guidance, talking points, and background papers for use by high-ranking officials, including President, U.S. Trade Representative, and Commerce Secretary.• Acting OSCPBS Director from Feb-June 2016 until SES position filled.• Frequent speaker at major conferences and programs.

Education

• University of Richmond

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Economics and Political Science

  1978 — 1982

• George Mason University

  M.A., International Transactions, International Business/Trade/Commerce

  1995 — 1997

Skills

• Foreign Policy
• Program Management
• International Business
• Policy
• Economics
• Public Policy
• Politics
• International Development
• Business Development
• Government
• Project Management
• Strategic Communications
• Policy Analysis
• Public Speaking
• Leadership
• Logistics
• Economic Development
• International Relations
• Management
• Strategic Planning
• International Trade