C. Fred Bergsten is nonresident senior fellow and director emeritus at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, of which he was founding director from its creation in 1981 through 2012. During these years, he was the most widely quoted think-tank economist in the world and called “one of the ten people who can change your life” by USA Today. He also is a member of the board of directors of the Peterson Institute, the Center fo Global Development and the Trilateral Commission.
In 2018 he was reappointed to the Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations by President Obama after serving in the same position both in 2014 and 2010.
From 1993 to 1995 he was chairman of the APEC Eminent Persons Group, writing its three reports that proposed the creation of “free and open trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region” as adopted by the first two APEC summits and endorsed by all the subsequent ones.
From 1991 to 1995 Dr. Bergsten was chairman of the Competitiveness Policy Council, created by the US Congress.
Previously, from 1980 to 1981 he functioned as undersecretary for monetary affairs, including as G-5 deputy and G-7 sherpa.
From 1977 to 1981 Dr. Bergsten was assistant secretary for international affairs of the US Treasury and from 1969 to 1971 he was assistant for international economic affairs to Dr. Henry Kissinger at the National Security Council.
He is author, co-author or editor of 47 books focusing on a wide range of international economic issues. He received numerous awards, starting from the Meritorious Honor Award of the Department of State (1965), the Legion d’Honneur from the Government of France (1981), the Oder of the Polar Star from the Government of Sweden (2013), the World Trade Award of the National Foreign Trade Council (2013) to name a few.
In 2018 he was selected to the American Academy of Diplomacy.