Served in the White House as Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economics, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council and part of the National Security Council.
Served as a key negotiator with foreign governments and bodies, including China, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Korea, Japan and members of the G-7, G-20 and APEC, among others.
Litigated more than 30 World Trade Organization (WTO) disputes on behalf of the United States.
Significant congressional experience, including working as the Legislative Director for former Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) and on the House Budget Committee.
Frequent media appearances in print and television, including CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times, among others.

Clete advises clients, including investors, trade associations and multinational companies, on international economic law and policy matters. With over 16 years of U.S. government experience, he offers clients strategic guidance and legal representation on trade, investment, finance, economic development and export controls, among other issues.

Throughout his career, Clete has been at the forefront of policy developments impacting U.S.-China competition and he has helped clients navigate all aspects of this relationship.

Before joining Akin, Clete served in the White House as the Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economics and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council. This position was also part of the National Security Council. In this role, he was the lead U.S. negotiator at multilateral summits, serving as the President’s Sherpa at the G-7 and G-20 Summits and the lead negotiator at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum.

Clete was also deeply involved in negotiations with major U.S. trading partners, such as China, the European Union (EU), Japan, Korea, Canada and Mexico. In addition, Clete helped the administration achieve key legislative victories, including the passage of development finance reform legislation and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reform legislation.

Prior to joining the White House, Clete worked at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for eight years. Among other positions, Clete served as Chief Counsel for Negotiations, Legislation and Administrative law, and Legal Advisor to the U.S. Mission to the WTO. He was heavily involved in both trade policy issues and WTO litigation.

Prior to joining USTR, Clete worked as Counsel on the House Budget Committee and in multiple positions, including Legislative Director, for then-Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI). In this role, he was successful in helping pass multiple pieces of trade and energy-related legislation into law.

In addition to being part of Akin’s lobbying & public policy practice, Clete works closely with the international trade team on issues related to the WTO, CFIUS and sanctions. He has participated in more than 30 WTO proceedings.

Education
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, cum laude, 2008
B.S.Ch.E., University of Notre Dame, 2002

Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
Wisconsin

Recognitions

Washingtonian, 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy, 2024.
The Legal 500 US, International Trade, 2019; Government Relations, 2024.

Affiliations and Public Service

Forum for American Leadership
Advisory Board, The Vandenberg Coalition
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council, GeoEconomics Center
Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economics and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, The White House
Special Assistant to the President for International Trade, Investment and Development, The White House
Chief Counsel for Negotiations, Legislation and Administrative Law, USTR
Legal Advisor to the U.S. Mission to the WTO, USTR
Assistant General Counsel, USTR
Counsel, House Budget Committee
Legislative Director, Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI)

Speeches and Publications

Speaker, “U.S. Presidential Election 2024: Navigating the Future of Trade Policy for the Indo-Pacific,” Asia Society Policy Institute, September 19, 2024.
Speaker, “Understanding Washington: U.S. Trade Policy Training,” Diplocraft, The Meridian Center for Diplomatic Engagement, March 21, 2024.
“Jump-starting U.S. Trade and Economic Engagement in the Indo-Pacific,” Asia Society Policy Institute Report, September 2023.
“Reimagining the TPP: Revisions That Could Facilitate U.S. Reentry,” Asia Society Policy Institute Report, December 2022. This publication was cited in the “America Needs a Better China Trade Strategy” article authored by the Editorial Board of The Washington Post, January 2023.
Testimony, “Combatting the Economic Threat from China,” House Committee on Financial Services, Washington, D.C., February 7, 2023
Testimony, “Supporting U.S. Workers, Businesses, and the Environment in the Face of Unfair Chinese Trade Practices,” House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Trade, Washington, D.C., December 2, 2021
Testimony, “US.-China Relations: Improving U.S. Competitiveness Through Trade,” Senate Committee on Finance, Washington, D.C., April 22, 2021
Testimony, “Censorship as a Non-Tariff Barrier to Trade,” Senate Committee on Finance, Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, Washington, D.C., June 30, 2020
Keynote Speaker, Georgetown Law’s 40th Annual International Trade Update, March 8, 2019
Keynote Speaker, G20 Leaders’ Summit: A Readout from the U.S. Sherpa, Washington International Trade Association, December 13, 2018