Barry I Friedman is the Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S Embassy in Beijing, China. As the Department of Commerce’s lead official in China, he overseas a staff of 125 in five constituent offices and an expanding network of American Trading Centers throughout China. Prior to taking up the China position, Friedman served in Washington, D.C. as the Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for International Operations and was responsible for the management and oversight of the U.S Commercial Service’s (USCS) worldwide network of 152 trade offices in 92 countries. Before his tenure as DAS, he completed four years as Senior Commercial Officer (SCO) at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong (2000-04). Prior to Hong Kong, Friedman served as SCO in Sydney, Australia (1996-2000); and, as Commercial Counselor at the American Embassy in Tel Aviv (1994-96). In Tel Aviv, with responsibility for the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Friedman was awarded the Department's Gold Medal for his work supporting regional commercial initiatives under the mid-east peace process. Prior to Israel, Mr. Friedman was Director of the Russia/NIS Programs Office at USCS headquarters in Washington, D.C. (1993-94). As Director, his office established and staffed six new Commercial Service offices and 14 American Business Centers throughout the former Soviet Union under a $20 million U.S. government assistance program. Mr. Friedman and his unit were recognized for their work with the Department's Silver Medal. He also served at USCS headquarters as Deputy Director for Western Hemisphere managing USCS posts in the Andean countries (1992-93). Also, in East Asia, Mr. Friedman has held positions as Assistant Commercial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, where his duties included trade promotion and negotiations on the automotive industry, construction and major projects bilateral agreements (1989-91), and, as Vice Consul at the American Consulate in Guangzhou, China (1985-88).
A native New Yorker, Friedman holds an MBA in International Business from New York University, part of which he completed at Lingnan Business School at Chinese University, Hong Kong. He also holds a Masters degree in Chinese/East Asia Studies and a Masters in Bilingual/Bicultural Education. Friedman also studied at Nanyang University, Singapore. His languages are Chinese (Mandarin) and Japanese.
Mr. Friedman, a 22-year veteran with the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is a Commissioned Officer in the Senior Foreign Service with the personal rank of Minister-Counselor.
