Rachel Bae is the intellectual property (IP) attaché to Europe, where she advocates for effective IP policies in EU institutions and member states, contributes to bilateral IP-related discussions, and assists U.S. stakeholders. She also advances U.S. IP policy objectives in relevant international organizations based in Europe.
Ms. Bae has almost 20 years of applied trade and IP policy experience. Prior to her current role, she served as the senior counselor in the Trade and Agriculture Directorate (TAD) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France. As a member of TAD’s senior management team, she oversaw and provided strategic direction to advance the Directorate’s work. In particular, she worked closely with the Office of the Secretary-General, as well as with other parts of the OECD, in the development and implementation of horizontal projects and on strategies to advance the implementation of OECD advice in member states and partner countries in the areas of trade and IP.
Before her tenure at the OECD, Ms. Bae served as a trade negotiator with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) at the U.S. Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. In this capacity, she was the U.S. delegate to several WTO bodies, including the WTO Councils on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and Goods, and the Committees on Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS) and Trade and Environment. She also participated in negotiations on trade rules, including fisheries subsidies, the geographical indication (GI) registration system for wines and spirits, and the WTO Environmental Goods Agreement.
Before her posting to Geneva, Ms. Bae was director for Intellectual Property and Innovation at the USTR in Washington, D.C. In addition, Ms. Bae served as an attorney-advisor at the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Regulations and Rulings.
Ms. Bae is a three-time recipient of the USTR Certificate of Appreciation. She has served as a board member of the Customs Lawyers’ Association and received a World Customs Organization award for meritorious service in the U.S. customs administration.
Ms. Bae holds a J.D. from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law and a B.A. in political science and international studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Ms. Bae is a member of the Maryland State Bar.
About the USPTO and the Office of Policy and International Affairs
Aside from the issuance of patents and registration of trademarks, the USPTO has a statutory mandate to advise the President and all federal agencies, through the Secretary of Commerce, on national and international intellectual property (IP) policy issues, including IP protection in other countries. In addition, the USPTO is authorized by statute to provide guidance, conduct programs and studies, and interact with IP offices worldwide—and with international intergovernmental organizations—on matters involving IP.
The USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs fulfills this mandate by leading negotiations on behalf of the United States at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); advising the Administration on the negotiation and implementation of the IP provisions of international trade agreements; advising the Secretary of Commerce and the Administration on a full range of IP policy matters, including in the areas of patent, copyright, trademarks, and trade secrets; conducting empirical research on IP; and providing educational programs on the protection, use, and enforcement of IP.