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Jennifer Sanford

Senior Manager of International Trade and Energy/Environment Policy

Cisco Global Policy and Government Affairs

Jennifer Sanford joined Cisco in April 2004, and serves as senior manager of International Trade and Energy/Environment Policy. Jennifer is responsible for the development and implementation of Cisco's international trade policy strategy, particularly with respect to China, and for strategic planning and internal operations of Cisco's global government affairs team.

Prior to her career at Cisco, Jennifer served seven years as director of international trade policy at the American Electronics Association in Washington, D.C., where she successfully led the high-tech industry's efforts to secure congressional passage of legislation to reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) in 2002, and to establish China's Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status in 2000. She also worked many years on the development and implementation of the European Union (EU) environmental laws on electronics.

Jennifer's career began in San Francisco, Calif., with a customs consulting firm, Worldtariff (now owned by FedEx), where she researched and reported international customs tariffs on high-tech products in Europe, North Africa, India and the Republics of the former Soviet Union.

Jennifer holds a bachelor's and master's degrees in International Policy Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and serves on the board of the Eben Tisdale Public Policy Fellowship.

Articles

October 31, 2024

HIGH TECH POLICY

Bridging the Digital Divide: Cisco’s Commitment to the BEAD Program

1 min read

In today’s digital age, access to reliable broadband is no longer a luxury but a necessity for economic opportunity, educational advancement, and overall quality of life. However, millions of Americans in unserved and underserved communities continue to face barriers to connectivity, underscoring the importance of the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program […]

January 29, 2020

HIGH TECH POLICY

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Will Help Power Technology

1 min read

Before today’s presidential signing ceremony for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) implementing legislation (H.R. 5430), I want to take a minute to reflect on the reasons it is a good agreement that will help fuel the digital economy among our three countries. The North America Free Trade Agreement went into effect on January 1, 1994. To […]

October 18, 2018

HIGH TECH POLICY

USTR Pushes for New Digital Opportunities in Japan, the UK, and the EU

1 min read

Yesterday, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) informed Congress of its intent to negotiate three separate free trade agreements with Japan, the UK and the EU. Welcome...

October 5, 2018

HIGH TECH POLICY

U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Enables the Digital Economy

1 min read

Minutes before a midnight deadline on October 1, the U.S., Mexico and Canada agreed on a new trade pact to replace the previous North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The...

October 5, 2015

HIGH TECH POLICY

Trade Agenda Gets a Boost

1 min read

Today, Cisco is pleased that the United States and 11 other countries in the Asia Pacific region concluded negotiation of the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement. We are eager to review the details of the Agreement when the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) releases the final text in the coming weeks. “TPP represents […]

June 25, 2015

HIGH TECH POLICY

Statement of Jennifer Sanford on Passage of Trade Package

1 min read

Congress has now approved a landmark trade package including Trade Promotion Authority and Trade Adjustment Assistance.  This is a significant accomplishment that just a week ago looked in serious doubt. This trade package will give President Obama the ability to conclude negotiations on the TransPacific Partnership; it gives Congress the authority to establish priorities in […]

January 9, 2014

HIGH TECH POLICY

Statement of Jennifer Sanford on the Introduction of Trade Promotion Authority Legislation

1 min read

In 2002, there was a Battle Royale on trade in Washington.  I had the privilege of working with  Members of Congress and their staffs on both sides of the political aisle talking about the importance of ensuring that the United States remains a leader in international trade negotiations.   We in the tech sector made […]

February 4, 2013

HIGH TECH POLICY

Shifting Focus in Trade Agreements: Boosting Supply Chain Efficiency to Grow Global GDP

Last week, the World Economic Forum (WEF), in collaboration with the World Bank and Bain & Company, issued the report, “Enabling Trade: Valuing Growth Opportunities.” The report concluded that reducing supply chain barriers in two key areas – border administration and transportation and telecommunications infrastructure – could increase global GDP up to six times more than total tariff elimination. The WEF paper calls on governments and the private sector to tackle these barriers through coordinated action, something which we here at Cisco strongly support.