Bart Thanhauser was nominated to the U.S. International Trade Commission by President Donald J. Trump on June 1, 2026, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 16, 2026, for a term expiring December 16, 2027.

Prior to his appointment to the Commission, Commissioner Thanhauser served as Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). In that role, he was responsible for shaping and implementing U.S. trade policy toward countries throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific region.

Across USTR and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Commissioner Thanhauser has worked on trade policy and trade enforcement matters in the U.S. government for more than fifteen years. Earlier in his career, Commissioner Thanhauser was a Brookings Legislative Fellow and Trade Advisor to Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). He also served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative at USTR, where he advised on matters relating to U.S. trade with Asia and Africa, critical minerals, and industrial competitiveness.

A Democrat of New York, Commissioner Thanhauser holds a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and a master's degree from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University. He began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Indonesia. Originally from New York, he resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife and son.

Last updated August 17, 2026