Counselor Appointed For EXIM’s New Programme

By Emmanuel Oluebube

President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Kimberly A. has announced the appointment of David Trulio as Counselor to the Chairman and Senior Vice President for the Programme on China and Transformational Exports.

“Not only will David Trulio serve as a trusted counselor and strategic adviser, he will lead one of the most significant programs in the 86-year history of Export-Import Bank of the United States,” said Chairman Reed. “Competing with China’s unfair and aggressive trade practices has been a priority for President Trump, and to that end, EXIM’s bipartisan reauthorization directs us to strengthen our national and economic security by competing with China. David’s vast expertise in policy, domestic and international business, and national security, as well broad experience with the interagency and diplomatic communities, provide a unique combination of insights and skills as we establish this vital program to help level the playing field so that our nation’s businesses and workers can compete and win around the world.”

Trulio is being detailed to EXIM from the Department of Defense, where he was Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, performed the duties of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, and served as Executive Director of the Defense Policy Board. Trulio has extensive leadership experience and expertise in business and national security, and with addressing Chinese threats and influence globally. In addition to senior roles at the Department of Defense, Trulio served in leadership positions at the White House and in the international areas of two of the world’s largest aerospace and defense companies. 

“China is a strategic competitor using predatory economics to reinforce its geopolitical aspirations around the world,” Trulio said. “As President Trump has noted, economic security is national security, and I’m grateful to the President, Chairman Reed, and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper for affording me the opportunity to join the EXIM team to help level the playing field for U.S. exporters, support US jobs, and advance America’s leadership in technology areas critical to our security.”

On a bipartisan basis, Congress passed, and on December 20, 2019, President Trump signed into law, the historic seven-year reauthorization of EXIM, which directed EXIM to establish the Programme on China and Transformational Exports. Per the legislation, Congress mandated that EXIM has the goal of reserving not less than 20 percent of its total financing authority, equal to US$27 billion, for support made pursuant to the effort.

Trulio will be responsible for expeditiously establishing and leading the new initiative, which will help “neutralize export subsidies for competing goods and services financed by official export credit, tied aid, or blended financing provided by the People’s Republic of China,” and “advance the comparative leadership of the United States with respect to the People’s Republic of China.” In addition, it will support U.S. “innovation, employment, and technological standards” through direct exports to countries around the world in the following key areas:

• artificial intelligence
• biotechnology
• biomedical sciences
• wireless communications equipment (including 5G or subsequent wireless technologies)
• quantum computing
• renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage
• semiconductor and semiconductor machinery manufacturing
• emerging financial technologies, including technologies that facilitate (a) financial inclusion through increased access to capital and financial services, (b) data security and privacy, (c) payments, the transfer of funds, and associated messaging services; and (d) efforts to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism
• water treatment and sanitation, including technologies and infrastructure to reduce contaminants and improve water quality
• high performance computing
• associated services necessary for use of any of the foregoing exports

Trulio earned his AB from Princeton University, JD from Columbia University School of Law, and MBA from Harvard Business School.