Angela ELLARD

Angela Paolini ELLARD is renowned for her expertise in trade and international economic policy, resolving trade barriers, and negotiating outcomes. Now retired, she served as WTO Deputy Director-General from June 2021 to August 2025. She was responsible for dispute settlement/reform, trade remedies, market access/trade facilitation, and negotiations to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. She supervised the Secretariat’s facilitation of the successful conclusion and entry into force of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement.  She also oversaw the WTO budget and financial operations.

Previously, Ms. Ellard had a distinguished 26-year career as Majority and Minority Chief Trade Counsel in the U.S. Congress. She achieved significant bipartisan trade policy outcomes with Congressional leaders and five Presidential administrations, including trade agreement negotiation and implementation, development programs, and U.S. trade and customs laws.  Before her tenure on the Hill, she practiced law at major U.S. law firms, focusing on trade litigation, policy, and legislation.

She earned her J.D. cum laude/Tulane Law School, M.A. in Public Policy/Tulane, and B.A. summa cum laude/Tulane’s Newcomb College.

She speaks and lectures worldwide and has received numerous awards for her contributions to trade law and policy.