MSInsight.
Experience. Depth. Results.
Domestic Regulation.
International Policymaking and Trade.
Sustainable Agriculture.
Advocacy.​​
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Melissa Schmaedick is a seasoned, results-driven professional with a proven track record of delivering comprehensive regulatory and policymaking guidance, driving global policy engagement, and managing intergovernmental coordination and successful cross-border operations in agriculture, trade, and food security.
SERVICES & EXPERTISE
Market Analysis
Policy Analysis
Consensus-Building
Government-Industry Relations
Project Management
Regulatory Analysis and Rulemaking
Regulatory Analysis and Rulemaking
International Trade
Sustainable Agriculture
Regulatory analysis and rulemaking to address market imbalances in the U.S. fresh fruit, vegetable and specialty crop sectors.
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Promulgation
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Amendments
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Analysis and Consensus-building
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Drafting Regulatory Text
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Public Hearing Preparation
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Analysis of alignment between foreign and domestic regulations.
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Importer Challenges to Domestic Quality Regulations
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National Organic Program: livestock
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Animal Welfare: hogs and poultry
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WTO-Member proposed Sanitary and Phytosanitary regulations
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WTO-Member proposed Technical Barriers to Trade regulations
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Policy analyst
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​Diplomacy, representation, advocacy:
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Multilateral negotiations
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Bi-lateral negotiations
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International organizations
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Organization and execution of Ministerial-level meetings​
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Trade economist
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Tariff schedules and impact analysis
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Production, supply and demand calculations
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Policy making and analysis of:
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Sustainable productivity growth
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Sustainable agri-food systems
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Climate change adaptation and mitigation
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Empowerment of women, youth, and underserved populations with untapped potential in agriculture
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Food loss and waste
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Cross-functional stakeholder engagement
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Government-Industry partnership building
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Workshops
ENGAGEMENTS
U.S. AGRICULTURE
Almond Board of California
Washington
Sweet Cherry
Marketing Committee
Citrus
Administrative
Committee
Cranberry
Marketing
Committee
California Desert Grape Administrative Committee
Hazelnut Marketing Board
Walla Walla
Sweet Onion
Marketing Committee
USA Pears
Fresh Pear Committee
Processed Pear Committee
American Pecan Council
Irish Potatoes
Grown in
Washington State
Idaho-Eastern Oregon Potato Committee
Administrative Committee for Pistachios
Vidalia Onion Committee
California
Walnut Board
Florida
Tomato
Committee
Florida Avocado Administrative Committee
California Raisin
Administrative Committee
California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement
National
Pork Producers
Council
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
SPS and TBT Committees
Policy Partnership for Food Security
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Agricultural Technology Cooperation Working Group
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
Agriculture Ministerials
EXPERIENCE
2025
Acting Senior Director
Multilateral Affairs
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Foreign Agricultural. Service (FAS)
Trade Policy & Geographic Affairs (TPGA)
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Directed multidisciplinary team of 25 economists and science advisors across the World Trade Organization Division, International Organizations Division, and U.S. Dairy and Sugar Import Programs.
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Supervised development of analytical outputs addressing global trade topics including market access, export competition, regulatory standards, non-tariff trade barriers, transparency, import policy, dispute resolution, sustainable agriculture policymaking and food systems.
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Advised senior officials, USDA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, and interagency partners such as the U.S. Trade Representative's Office, Department of State, and Department of Commerce, on complex and high-stakes agricultural trade matters.
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Key Contributions:
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Enhanced executive decision-making and operational cohesion by orchestrating alignment via strategic communication, data-informed analysis, and targeted, actionable insights.
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Fostered high-performing, collaborative environment by allocating and optimizing resources to improve cross-functional alignment, drive knowledge sharing, and support continuous operational improvements.
2024-2025
Director,
World Trade Organization Division
FAS APEC Coordinator
2020-2023
Senior Trade Policy Advisor & APEC Coordinator
International Organizations Division
USDA, FAS, TPGA, MA
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Directed team of 12 economists across seven WTO committees, overseeing Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) notification processes, Trade Policy Reviews, WTO accessions, and trade remedy cases related to U.S. agricultural exports.
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Oversaw work of two additional professionals focused on advancing U.S. agricultural interests within the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), APEC’s Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
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Appointed as U.S. Head of Delegation for the APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security (PPFS), representing national priorities in regional food security dialogues.
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Provided strategic and technical support to Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs during APEC 2024 Food Security Ministerial in Peru.
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Key Contributions:
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Secured endorsement of Trujillo Principles for Preventing and Reducing Food Loss and Waste in the Asia-Pacific Region by reconciling U.S. policy on food loss and waste reduction with the collective objectives of 21 APEC member economies.
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Improved policy alignment and risk mitigation through structured mentorship and critical review of analytical outputs produced by Multilateral Affairs personnel to support U.S. positions in multilateral forums.
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Expanded private sector engagement in APEC through USDA-sponsored research, coordination of cross-economy dialogues with stakeholders from 14 countries, and execution of high-level public-private retreat in Trujillo, Peru.
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USDA, FAS, TPGA, MA
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Led USDA engagement efforts and promoted U.S. agriculture initiatives throughout the United States’ 2023 APEC Host Year.
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Administered $1.5M budget to ensure fiscal accountability and conclude expenditures below projected thresholds.
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Directed multi-agency coordination across seven federal departments and six APEC sub-fora to advance U.S. agricultural priorities on food security, biotechnology, and fisheries governance.
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Advocated U.S. agricultural innovation strategy in G7 and G20 engagements, shaping global dialogue on innovative technology, sustainable productivity growth, and climate-resilient food systems initiatives.
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Key Contributions:
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Facilitated strategic engagement on trade priorities between U.S. officials and 20 Asia-Pacific dignitaries through comprehensive management of 2023 APEC Food Security Ministerial.
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​Secured endorsement of the Principles for Achieving Food Security Through Sustainable Agriculture in the Asia-Pacific Regions by reconciling U.S. policy with the collective objectives of 21 APEC member economies.
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Strengthened regional cooperation in sustainable agricultural systems by orchestrating two high-level events that enabled public-private dialogue between Asia-Pacific ministers and global agribusiness leaders.
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Achieved alignment of APEC’s 21-member sustainable agri-food systems framework with U.S. priorities by leading negotiations focused on science-based innovation, localized solutions, and holistic sustainability.
2001-2020
Senior Marketing Specialist
Acting Rulemaking Branch Chief
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service,
Specialty Crops Program
Marketing Order & Agreement Division
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Approved work deliverables for 13-member staff, delivered comprehensive regulatory and policymaking process guidance to 20 field and headquarters personnel, conducted formal training, and oversaw all major rulemaking initiatives.
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Engaged with USDA legal counsel and senior Agricultural Marketing Service executives to align rulemaking objectives with agency-wide policy goals and strategic legislative directives.
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Spearheaded authorship of the U.S. industrial hemp production program under the 2018 Farm Bill to assure legal alignment with Agricultural Adjustment Act and congressional intent.
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Key Contributions:
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Promulgation of the federal Pecan Marketing Order
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Promulgation of the federal Pistachio Marketing Order
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Oversight of the proposed federal marketing order for Leafy Green Vegetables rulemaking process
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Amended the following federal marketing orders to address market stability concerns:
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Walnuts​
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Almonds
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California Tree Fruit
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California Raisins
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Hazelnuts
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Washington Potatoes
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Idaho-Eastern Oregon Potatoes
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Walla Walla Onions
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Vidalia Onions
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Florida Citrus
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Florida Avocados
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Cranberries​
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California Table Grapes
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Washington Sweet Cherries
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Pears (Fresh and Processed)
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1998-2001
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
Dairy, Livestock& Poultry Commodity Division
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Pork/Hog Trade Analyst for Europe and Canada
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National Pork Producers Council
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World Agricultural Outlook Board Commodity Analyst
Graduate and Post Graduate
Shivaji University & Rural Bank of India
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar
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Dairy, Sugarcane, and Women's Banking Cooperatives
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Intern
International Trade Policy Division
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EFTA Accession Tariff Schedule Analysis
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GATT/WTO Uruguay Round Tariff Analysis