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Ms. Schuman brings unparalleled experience and insight at the forefront of U.S.-China trade relations, with more than a decade of U.S. government service in senior roles as a negotiator, advisor, and diplomat in Washington and Beijing. Ms. Schuman most recently served as Senior Trade Representative for China at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), as one of the U.S. government’s most senior trade negotiators with Beijing, shaping U.S. trade policy towards China. Ms. Schuman played a key role in the negotiation of the Phase One Agreement with China and in the Section 301 investigation of China in 2018. Ms. Schuman previously served as Minister Counselor for Trade Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, making her the top U.S. trade official in China across multiple administrations. After returning from Beijing in 2023, she served on detail to the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition with China, where she advised the committee on trade and economic security issues.

“Trade is now a central pillar of national security—and our clients increasingly face challenges that span both,” said Michael Allen, Managing Director at Beacon Global Strategies. “Sara brings unmatched experience from the front lines of U.S. trade negotiations and enforcement, particularly with China. Her leadership will enable BGS to offer best-in-class strategic counsel as companies navigate today’s high-stakes trade environment.”

“We are at a once in a generation moment as global trade and supply chains are being redrawn to respond to geopolitical risks and security concerns,” said Sara Schuman, Managing Director at BGS. “I look forward to helping our clients successfully navigate an increasingly complex trade landscape, leveraging Beacon’s deep expertise in national security and geopolitical risk.”

Sara began her career as an international attorney in New York and Beijing. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and has spent over a decade living and working in China. She holds a J.D. magna cum laude from Brooklyn Law School, a B.A. cum laude in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College, and a certificate in China Studies from the Johns Hopkins University Nanjing Center.

About Beacon Global Strategies
Founded in 2013, Beacon Global Strategies is a strategic advisory firm specializing in geopolitical risk analysis, national security, and defense advisory services. BGS helps clients navigate global security challenges through tailored solutions that operate at the intersection of policy, technology, and defense.