The United States Trade Representative is the principal advisor on issues of international commerce to the President of the United States. In addition to advising the White House on trade issues, the USTR is also America's chief delegate to the World Trade Organization and other economic forums, and is the state's chief trade negotiator. Just to make things confusing, the name can also refer to the USTR's office, which employs several deputy and assistant USTR's.

The position was created by the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, and given its current name in 1980. It is currently one of several agencies within the umbrella of the Executive Office of the President, making it directly responsible to George W. Bush. It is headquartered at the Winder Building in Washington, D.C., and maintains an office at WTO headquarters in Geneva.

Past USTR's:

1. Christian A. Herter (1962 - 1966)
2. William M. Roth (1967 - 1969)
3. Carl J. Gilbert (1969 - 1971)
4. William D. Eberle (1971 - 1975)
5. Frederick B. Dent (1975 - 1977)
6. Robert S. Strauss (1977 - 1979)
7. Reubin O. Askew (1979 - 1981)
8. William E. Brock III (1981 - 1985)
9. Clayton K. Yeutter (1985 - 1989)
10. Carla A. Hills (1989 - 1993)
11. Michael Kantor (1993 - 1997)
12. Charlene Barshefsky (1997 - 2001)
13. Robert B. Zoellick (2001 - )

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http://www.ustr.gov