Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs

The Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs, Reuben Jeffery III, serves as the senior economic official at the State Department; advises the Secretary of State on international economic policy; and leads the work of the Department on issues ranging from trade, agriculture, and aviation to bilateral relations with America's economic partners. He is also the State Department's Coordinator for International Energy Affairs.

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U.S.-Russian Economic Dialogue Under Secretary Jeffery (Apr. 28): "The genesis of this dialogue came from the Sochi meeting of our two presidents...two weeks ago.... Those relationships are very broad, very deep, very robust with significant potential to expand our trading and investment relationship on a mutually advantageous basis." Full Text | Joint Statement by the United States and Russia | Media Note on U.S-Russia Economic Dialogue

Energy Security and the Environment On March 11, 2008, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice named Under Secretary Reuben Jeffery Coordinator for International Energy Affairs. Later that week, Under Secretary Jeffery delivered a speech entitled "Meeting Emerging Challenges to Global Energy Security and the Environment" at the National Academies Summit on America's Energy Future in Washington, DC. On March 17 Under Secretary Jeffery wrote Op-Ed called "'Energy Security" in the Washington Times. On March 3-7, 2008, the United States hosted the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference. The conference addressed the benefits and costs of a major and rapid scale-up in the global deployment of renewable energy technology. President Bush toured the conference, and delivered remarks, saying . "...let me start first by telling you that America has got to change its habits. We've got to get off oil. And the reason why is, first, oil is -- dependency on oil presents a real challenge to our economy." Deputy Secretary John Negroponte spoke as well, saying: "Our task is to develop the policies, incentives, and forms of international cooperation that will realize the full benefits of renewable energy." Under Secretary Jeffery spoke to the to Plenary Session on Market Adoption and Finance. Also that week, the U.S.-Brazil Biofuels Steering Group and Advisory Board met to advance cooperation of the U.S.-Brazil Memorandum of Understanding on Biofuels Cooperation. Media Note

U.S.-China Economic Relations Under Secretary Reuben Jeffery III led the State Department delegation to the third U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue in Beijing, China on December 12-13, 2007. Co-Chaired by U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. and Vice Premier Wu Yi, the discussions led to a number of results that strengthen and deepen the bilateral economic relationship. Link to more information. On November 19, 2007, Under Secretary Jeffery delivered a speech to an internet industry forum entitled The United States and China: Opportunities for Global Leadership in a New Economy. Remarks Travel to Iraq Under Secretary Jeffery has traveled to Iraq to discuss economic development with his Iraqi counterparts.  On a November 3-9, 2007 trip, Under Secretary Jeffery and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker met with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki and other Iraqi officials to discuss economic issues. On February 28, Under Secretary Jeffery participated in a press conference at the U.S.-Iraq Dialogue on Economic Cooperation.

U.S.-German Relations Under Secretary Jeffery traveled to Berlin, Germany October 15-17 to meet with German officials, and take part in G8 meetings. He also delivered a speech to the Aspen Institute, Berlin on U.S.-German relations. Remarks

Travel to Indonesia Under Secretary Jeffery traveled to Jakarta, Indonesia September 9-12, following his participation at the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Sydney. Under Secretary Jeffery met with Indonesian government officials to discuss concrete steps to broaden trade and investment and explore new ways to enhance economic relations between the U.S. and Indonesia. Remarks by Under Secretary Jeffery: U.S. and Indonesia: Working Together for a Prosperous Future USTDA Press Release Travel Notice Under Secretary Jeffery tours the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. Under Secretary Jeffery signs a MOU on Biofuels in Jakarta, Indonesia.