Rufus H. Yerxa has served as deputy director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 2002. He has an extensive record as an international trade negotiator, diplomat and lawyer. He served as deputy U.S. trade representative from 1989 to 1995, first in Geneva and then in Washington. Prior to that he was with the Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives(1982-1989), where he served as staff director of the Subcommittee on Trade. His private sector experience includes both law practice and a senior corporate role. He was a resident partner in the Brussels office of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld (1995-1998), and later was with Monsanto Company (1998-2002), where he served as European General Counsel and later as International Counsel in Washington.