Biography — Merit E. Janow (United States) (2003 – 2007) 

Born in the United States on 13 May 1958, Ms Merit E. Janow has been since 1994 Professor in the Practice of International Economic Law and International Affairs at the School of International and Public Affairs of Columbia University. She teaches advanced law courses in international trade and comparative antitrust law along with courses on international trade policy.

Before joining Columbia's faculty in 1994, Ms Janow was Deputy Assistant US Trade Representative for Japan and China (1990-93), and worked as a corporate lawyer specializing in mergers and acquisitions with the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York (1988-90).

Ms Janow is the author of several books and has contributed chapters to more than a dozen books. She grew up in Tokyo, Japan, and speaks Japanese. Ms Janow served as a WTO panellist from September 2001 to May 2002 in the dispute European Communities — Trade Description of Sardines (WT/DS231).