WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center today named Mark Linscott as a senior fellow. Most recently, Linscott served as Assistant United States Trade Representative (USTR) for South and Central Asian Affairs.
Linscott will lead the South Asia Center’s US-India Trade Initiative, aimed at convening thought leadership and policy-makers in an effort to maintain focus on the importance of a burgeoning trade relationship between the United States and India.
“Mark’s addition to our team will be a significant boost given the rapid development of the Trump Administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy,” said Frederick Kempe, Atlantic Council CEO and President. “This will build further upon our commitment so the South Asian region and, in particular, the growth of US-Indian trade relations.”
As USTR for South and Central Asian Affairs, Linscott was responsible for the development of the United States’ trade policy with countries comprising the South and Central Asia region.
Linscott also led efforts in the bilateral Trade Policy Forum with India, and in the Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs) with Central Asia, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. An expert in international trade and policy, Linscott also previously served as Assistant USTR for the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Multilateral Affairs, where he coordinated US trade policies in the WTO, OECD, G20, and directed related free trade agreement negotiations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
“I am excited to bring my years of experience as a trade negotiator to the work of the Atlantic Council, particularly its efforts to strengthen and broaden the bilateral relationship between the United States and India,” said Linscott.
Among the Atlantic Council’s thirteen regional and thematic centers, the South Asia Center serves as the Atlantic Council’s focal point for work on greater South Asia as well as its relations between these countries, the neighboring regions, Europe, and the United States. It seeks to foster partnerships with key institutions in the region to establish itself as a forum for dialogue between decision-makers in South Asia, the United States, and NATO, and continues to “wage peace” in the region.
For any questions or to request an interview with Mark Linscott, please contact press@AtlanticCouncil.org.