US President George W Bush has announced that he intends to nominate an Indian American, Karan K Bhatia, of Maryland, as Deputy US Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador.
Bhatia currently serves as assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs at the Department of Transportation.
He previously served as deputy undersecretary of commerce for industry and security. Prior to that, Bhatia was chief counsel for the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Export Administration.
Earlier in his career, he was an equity partner at the law firm of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering in Washington.
Bhatia received a bachelor's degree from Princeton, a master's degree from the London School of Economics, and a doctorate from Columbia Law School.