*EPF510 11/02/01
Text: USTR Appointment of Special Textile Negotiator
(Assistant to Senator Helms named to position) (330)

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick has appointed as a special textile negotiator an assistant to Senator Jesse Helms, the Republican from textile-producing North Carolina.

A November 1 press release from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said Helms assistant Kevin Koonce "will play a critical role in working with America's textile and apparel industries to expand overseas market access and address the significant disruption recently experienced by the U.S. industry."

Following is the text of the press release:

(begin text)

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C.
20508
November 1, 2001

USTR Announces Selection for Special Textile Negotiator

WASHINGTON -- United States Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick today announced the selection of Kevin Koonce to be Special Textile Negotiator. As USTR's Special Textile Negotiator, Mr. Koonce will play a critical role in working with America's textile and apparel industries to expand overseas market access and address the significant disruption recently experienced by the U.S. industry.

For the past four years Mr. Koonce has been chief textile trade advisor to U.S. Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC). His legislative background and experience, focused specifically on the U.S. textile sector, will provide USTR with added insights into industry and worker concerns. As an advisor to Senator Helms, Mr. Koonce worked closely with all sectors of the textile industry on numerous trade measures, including the Trade and Development Act of 2000, and Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China.

Mr. Koonce was raised in Connecticut and received his J.D. from The Catholic University's Columbus School of Law and his BA in Political Science from Denison University.

Mr. Koonce will be assisted by Caroyl Miller, who has worked on textile issues at USTR for over a decade.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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