Alexis Taylor has been named the deputy under secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In this role, Taylor oversees the department’s international activities, including international trade policy and export assistance programs. She also coordinates USDA’s engagement in international food aid and plays a key role in several international economic development and trade-capacity building programs.

Clay Hough, IDFA senior group vice president, and Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, met with Taylor today to discuss IDFA’s priorities in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP).

Taylor was formerly the chief of staff for FFAS where she worked to implement provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill. Before joining USDA, she served as legislative assistant for Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and advised the senator on agriculture and telecommunication issues. She also was responsible for negotiating the 2012 Senate Farm Bill for Baucus.

Taylor replaces Darci Vetter, who is now the chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and an invited speaker for the 2015 Dairy Forum.

For more information, contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.