Katherine Chi Tai (born 1974) is an American lawyer and government official of Taiwanese descent, serving as the 19th United States Trade Representative (USTR) from March 2021 to January 20, 2025. She is the first Asian American to hold this position. Tai grew up in the Washington, D.C., area and earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Yale University (1996) and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School (2001). Her early career included roles in international trade law, working as an associate at law firms specializing in trade and as counsel for the U.S. Court of International Trade. From 2014 to 2021, she served as Chief International Trade Counsel for the Democratic staff of the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means, advising on key legislation related to tariffs, trade agreements, and enforcement against unfair practices, particularly concerning China. As USTR, she oversaw international trade negotiations and tariffs, leading the Biden administration's trade agenda with a focus on worker-centered trade policies, supply chain resilience, strategic competition with China, multilateralism, and addressing climate and labor standards in trade deals. A member of the Democratic Party, Tai has been involved in high-profile negotiations and has faced scrutiny over trade policies affecting industries like technology.