Practices
Education
- M.A. (International Security Studies and Public and International Affairs)University of Pittsburgh1984
- B.A.Denison University1982
Welles Orr* has more than 25 years of experience in international trade policy, national security, and foreign affairs. His practice focuses on the formulation and implementation of international trade policy and U.S. foreign policy by the executive branch and the U.S. Congress.
Before joining Miller & Chevalier, Mr. Orr served as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for Congressional Affairs in the Executive Office of the President in the George H.W. Bush Administration. In that capacity, he served as the liaison between the USTR and the Congressional leadership and members of the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees on the drafting, negotiation, and implementation of all trade policies and agreements, as well as bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations.
Mr. Orr advised the USTR and the White House staff on all legislative matters affecting U.S. trade policy. He chaired the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) Congressional Affairs Subcommittee, which coordinated the Administration’s legislative trade policy agenda. He was the recipient of USTR’s Superior Accomplishment Award for his leadership efforts on major trade legislation.
Before joining USTR, Mr. Orr served in the U.S. Department of State as Senior Advisor and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs. He managed the Bureau’s legislative and public affairs activities and served as the principal liaison with members and staff of the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees and the Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittees, providing briefings on administration policy developments and economic and security assistance matters throughout the 27-country region.
Mr. Orr earned a certificate in International Studies from Warnborough College, Oxford.
*Not a lawyer.
- Special Advisor, U.S. Trade Representative, 1993
- Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs, Executive Office of the President, 1992
- Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs, Executive Office of the President, 1989 - 1992
- Senior Advisor and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs , U.S. Department of State, 1987 - 1989
- Special Assistant to Governor Dick Thornburgh, 1981
- Legislative Assistant, U.S. Senator H. John Heinz (R-PA), 1980
- Legislative Assistant, U.S. Congressman William S. Moorhead (D-PA), 1980
- Superior Accomplishment Award, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
- Member, Board of Directors, Washington International Trade Association Foundation
- Member, Board of Visitors, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh
- Member, Alumni Board of Visitors and Member, Advisory Board, Rogers Public Policy Scholars Program, St. George's School, Newport, Rhode Island
Bar Admissions
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Not a Lawyer
Welles Orr commented on conflicting strategic ambitions that drive the course of months-long trade negotiations between U.S. and China.
Welles Orr commented on the dynamics of U.S.-Mexico negotiations following President Trump's threat to impose the tariffs on Mexico while the two countries are fighting over the U.S.-Mexico-Canada
Welles Orr commented on the possibility of a trade agreement between the U.S. and China, and thinks the two countries will reach an agreement soon.
Miller & Chevalier is pleased to announce that the firm was recognized as a "Gold Level Donor" to the DC Bar's Raising the Bar campaign.
Welles Orr was quoted on trade tensions with China that could delay ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), also called new NAFTA, until after the 2020 elections.
Over the past week, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) took three separate actions that will impact imports of goods from
The Trump Administration's aggressive use of tariffs as a negotiating tool against U.S.
The Office of the U.S.
By now, it is well known that last week, President Trump signed presidential proclamations which impose, effective March 23, 2018, additional tariffs of
Earlier this year, the Trump administration ordered the Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S.