Lockett International LLC - CEO James Lockett

OVERVIEW

International lawyer and manager with 30+ years in trade and regulatory law and policy. Extensive work experience in Europe, the U.S. and Asia since 1983, with more than 100 business trips to the Asian region from Europe or the U.S., and extensive travel within Asia and the Middle East, Latin America and Africa. Lived and worked in Asia from 2005-2018 (Indonesia 2005-2008, 2011-2013; Vietnam 2008-2011; China 2013-2018). Significant cross-cultural management roles since 1990 in major law firms, chambers of commerce in Europe and in Asia, USAID projects, government work, and in a major multinational company. Senior level legal and technical work involving international trade and customs, regional trade integration, trade facilitation, supply chain and logistics, and regulatory issues. Strong history of utilizing international and government experience to assist private sector. Extensive public speaking and thought-leadership experience.



Countries of Work Experience:

Lived (2 years+) and worked: Belgium, Sweden, United States, Indonesia, Vietnam, China. Now in the USA.

Worked: Japan, Korea, PRC, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Czech, Hungary, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Dubai UAE, Ghana, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Brazil.

Key Experience   

• Currently CEO of Lockett International LLC, providing U.S. based international legal and policy advice to governments, associations and companies. From 2013-2018, Vice President, responsible for the global Trade Facilitation and Market Access issues of Huawei Technologies, the #1 telecom company in the world, based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Previously managed the overseas branch offices of two major U.S. law firms, coordinated several multi-jurisdictional international trade law practice groups, operated his own law firm for 4 years in Sweden and U.S., worked as Chief of Party / Team Leader for a $13.5 million USAID trade project in Indonesia, and a $20 million USAID project based in the ASEAN Secretariat, and has held a number of other large-scale international management roles involving coordinating multiple nationalities. Over two decades of experience managing and supervising diverse and multi-national groups of employees and experts. Extensive project management experience with major trade law and policy issues. Experienced dealing with management of complex relationships with multiple partners/institutions in different countries.
• Substantial international trade law and policy experience on matters involving U.S., EC, ASEAN, TPP, and WTO trade law, including representing the U.S. Government in litigation at the World Trade Organization. As a trade lawyer, a large ongoing focus since 1990 during the GATT Uruguay Round of negotiations on trade issues such as tariffs and market access for goods, market access in services, customs, trade remedies, and dispute settlement. In the 1990s, represented a Middle Eastern government in FTA negotiations with the EU. Also has worked on two Middle East border disputes. While working in Vietnam, advised corporate clients on international supply chain, market access, customs and trade facilitation issues, as well as sub-contracting on two USAID technical assistance projects in Vietnam and Cambodia, and assisted several foreign interests to respond to Vietnamese import and regulatory measures considered contrary to WTO commitments. Also provided considerable advice on the launch of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations with Vietnam and other countries. Provided extensive advice and technical assistance and training to the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Member States in areas related to the ASEAN Economic Community, in particular supporting work on harmonized standards and technical requirements, customs and trade facilitation, services, investment, and sectoral assistance.
• Extensive experience with regional regulatory coherence initiatives. Worked in Brussels from 1984-1998, during which time the EC enacted its “EC 1992” reform of legal and regulatory changes to create the EC “Single Market” and subsequently the “Three Pillars” relating to its economic, foreign and security, and justice and home affairs structures. Conducted major studies on regulatory impact, as well as commenting on draft regulatory initiatives. Also worked on GATT Article XXIV(6) issues related to the trade impact of three accessions of new Member States to the EC. In addition, worked in Jakarta with USAID ITAP from 2006-2008 in the Ministry of Trade (MOT), and part of this work involved assisting the MOT’s ASEAN Division analyze proposals for the ASEAN Economic Community (CEPT-AFTA; AFAS; ACIA), and the ASEAN Charter. In 2011-2013, providing high level technical assistance and training to the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Member States. Working with ASEAN Secretariat on institutional reform, and working to strengthen ASEAN in all three pillars: Political-Security, Socio-Cultural, and Economic.
• As legal counsel to a number of not-for-profit organizations and NGOs, has experience with a wide range of socio-cultural issues such as disaster relief, SME development, human rights, education, religious freedom, and medical/humanitarian assistance.
• Considerable experience working with trade remedies (anti-dumping, subsidies, safeguards) and with customs/trade facilitation issues.  Has personally handled more than 100 trade remedy cases involving U.S., EU and many other countries.  Has handled WTO dispute settlement cases involving trade remedies and customs. Also NAFTA, and litigation in the EU and the United States.
• Having spent two thirds of career in the private sector and one third in the public sector, significant experience with government relations and with developing public-private sector dialogues. Twice held key chairmanships for the American Chamber of Commerce (1990-1997, Brussels; 2010-2011, Hanoi) working with high-level government officials on behalf of private business, including agribusiness interests. With 14 years' experience in Brussels and over eight years working in Indonesia, Vietnam and China, can utilize particularly useful non-U.S. perspectives on how to organize and structure such public-private initiatives. Also was retained by an Asian government in a sensitive assignment to lobby on behalf of their candidate to become Director General of the WTO.
• Visiting Lecturer in two Master degree programs held in conjunction with the World Trade Institute, one being in Jakarta, Indonesia with the University Pelita Parapan, and the other being in Hanoi, Vietnam with the Foreign Trade University.
• In demand as a public speaker and thought-leader. Numerous recent presentations on WTO (including WTO Agriculture Agreement, trade remedies, SPS, customs, import licensing, trade facilitation, dispute settlement), US-China Trade Issues, ASEAN, Trans-Pacific Partnership, EU, regional regulatory coherence, and supply chain issues.
  
• In 2014, he was named to the World Economic Forum's Global Advisory Council on Trade and FDI, and in 2016 named to the WEF Global Futures Council on Trade and Investment. From 2016-2018, he served as a member of the Private Sector Consultative Group for the World Customs Organization. Also served as an Expert in the ICTSD E-15 Initiative to strenghten the global trade system.  Listed in the International Who’s Who of Trade and Customs Lawyers 2010, and Who's Who In International Trade Law. Listed annually in Who’s Who in the World since 1996.