Dr. Julie Callahan, who serves as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative (AUSTR) for agricultural affairs and commodity policy, has been with the agency since 2016, serving as senior director for agricultural affairs before being promoted to deputy AUSTR in 2020.

Callahan has close to 20 years of working on international issues and trade at a variety of agencies, including USTR, the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She earned her doctoral degree in Marine Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts and a Bachelor of Science in Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The chief agricultural negotiator is responsible for leading and coordinating agricultural trade negotiations and developing agricultural trade policy. The role has historically been critical to the agricultural sector and has only increased in importance as the sector advocates for more trade deals with market access.

Source: Hoosier Ag Today July 17, 2025 report