WASHINGTON (TIP): Kenneth Juster, the Deputy Assistant to US President Donald Trump for International Economic Affairs, is set to be named as the new US ambassador to India. A top deputy to United States National Economic Council (NEC) director Gary Cohn, Juster’s career has spanned over 35 years in government, law, business, finance, and international affairs.

The White House appointed Juster to serve as the Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council in January 2017. In this role, he coordinates the Administration’s international economic policy and integrates it with national security and foreign policy. Juster’s position is dual-hatted—on both the National Security Council staff and the National Economic Council staff. He also serves as the President’s representative and lead U.S. negotiator (“Sherpa”) for the annual G-7, G-20, and APEC Summits.

He founded and served as the U.S. Chair of the U.S.-India High Technology Cooperation Group, and was one of the key architects of the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership initiative between the United States and India. His work related to India was instrumental in transforming the U.S.-India relationship and laid the foundation for the historic civil nuclear agreement between the two countries.

The Washington Post quoted senior Trump administration officials as saying that Juster’s impending appointment to represent Washington in New Delhi is a consensus pick that places a top notch India expert in a crucial diplomatic post. However, the official announcement of Juster’s name is unlikely to come before Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Trump on 26 June.