Laird Treiber
Laird Treiber is a recognized leader and active consultant on international trade and investment issues. He was previously a career member of the Senior Foreign Service in the State Department, where he worked as an Economic Officer for more than 30 years on the full range of international economic and commercial issues, with a specific focus on identifying and resolving trade and investment barriers. Laird has extensive experience in promoting trade and investment ties with Africa, including successfully resolving AGOA related trade disputes and engaging U.S. companies on the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. He worked most recently as the State Department’s Senior Liaison for Prosper Africa, the Administration’s program to promote trade and investment between the U.S. and Africa. Laird previously served as the Economic Minister Counselor at the U.S. Embassies in South Africa, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, as well as earlier tours in Poland, Mexico and Washington. From 2018-19, the State Department detailed Laird as the Senior Adviser to the President of the Corporate Council on Africa, where he helped hold two major international events bringing U.S. and African companies together with senior government leaders. Laird has worked extensively on issues related to energy, environment and climate change, finance, trade, Intellectual Property Rights and aviation. Laird is proficient in Turkish, Spanish and some Polish. Laird received a BS from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, an MIA from Columbia and a Masters of Security Studies from National Defense University. Laird is also a senior associate (non-resident) in the CSIS Africa Program.