Bobby Hanks (left) and Bob Spitzer
Feb 26, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC – USA Rice has long been known for punching above its weight class in Washington, but the industry would not have seen the success it has if it were not for the intricate network of industry advocates spread throughout the executive and legislative branches of government. In some instances, those advocates have gone above and beyond for U.S. agriculture and rice has been able to reap the benefits.
In a Government Affairs Conference meeting yesterday between rice industry leaders and government trade officials, USA Rice honored one of these “unsung” heroes by presenting the 2020 USA Rice Industry Award to Bob Spitzer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). A lifelong career civil servant, Spitzer has dedicated his career to growing market access and development for U.S. agricultural products, and has spent more than 35 years with USDA and several additional years with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Spitzer currently serves as senior policy advisor within the Trade Policy and Geographic Affairs branch of FAS, covering Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Some of his crowning career achievements include work completed on the Uruguay and Doha Rounds of World Trade Organization negotiations as well as more recent roles in laying the groundwork for deals with Europe and Asia through the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreements. Most important to rice, Spitzer served as the lead USDA representative in the revamped North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations, leading to the creation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, ratified by Congress last month.
Spitzer has the formidable task of leading USDA negotiating teams in partnership with the U.S. Trade Representative for 2020 talks with the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Kenya.
“We are indebted to Bob for the work he has done for not only USA Rice, but for all of U.S. agriculture throughout his long tenure,” said Bobby Hanks, chair of the USA Rice International Trade Policy Committee. “He is known for being the guy behind the scenes rather than out front during negotiations. For example, his expertise was vital in preserving our duty-free market access into Mexico and Canada through the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).”
Hanks added, “We will be collaborating with Bob throughout the rest of his term as he works on free trade agreements with the UK and Kenya. This award is well-deserved, and we wish Bob much luck in his future endeavors.”
Spitzer plans to retire from federal service at the end of 2020.