Mitchell (Moyshe) Allen Silk is an American lawyer,author,and former government official who served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Markets under President Donald Trump. He is recognized as an expert in Chinese law and finance.[2][3][4] From October 2017 to July 2019,served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
Silk is the first Hasidic Jew to hold a senior position with a U.S. administration.[5][3]
Early life and education
Silk was born and grew up in Chicago. He was influenced by his grandparents who were immigrants to America from Eastern Europe,in particular,his maternal grandfather,a son and grandson of ritual scribes and followers of the first Rebbe of Nadvorna (today Nadvirna),Grand Rabbi Mordechai Leifer.
While in high school,Silk started working at a Chinese restaurant where he learned Cantonese. He then learned Mandarin at Middlebury College which he followed with a year at the National Taiwan Normal University.[6] His fluency in Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese had a profound impact on his career and life.[7]
Silk began his career as an associate at Hughes Hubbard &Reed (1987-1990),then at Graham &James (from 1990-1992). He worked as a senior associate at Chadbourne &Parke from 1992 to 1996. Silk later joined Allen &Overy,where he became partner and Head of the China Practice. He spent a decade in their Hong Kong office.[10][11][12][13][14]
In July 2019,he became the acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Markets. On September 19,2019,President Trump formally nominated Silk to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Markets.[17] A hearing on his nomination before the Senate Committee on Banking,Housing,and Urban Affairs was held on November 20,2019.[18] On April 21,2020,the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by voice vote.[19][20][21] Silk became the first Hasidic Jew to be confirmed to a senior U.S. administration position.[22][23][24][25]
Published work
Books
Silk's newest book,A Seat at the Table:An Inside Account of Trump's Economic RevolutionISBN979-8895652268 was published by Bombardier Books in September 2025.
He also published a book on Chinese environmental protection law titled: China's marine environmental protection law: The dragon creeping in murky waters,[26] and several other books, Taiwan Trade and Investment Law,[27]Environmental Law and Policy in the People's Republic of China.[28] In 2021, Silk co-authored with Singaporean banker Seth Tan Dancing with Giants: A Lawyer and Banker Share Their Passion for Infrastructure Finance.[29] The book chronicles their experiences over the last several decades working on some of the largest cross-border infrastructure projects on almost every continent and at the highest levels of government and corporate organizations.
In addition to his books on finance, Silk published a three volume, 2,000 page translation of the classic Kedushas Levi, written by Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev, published by ArtScroll in September 2023. This is the first complete translation of this work, and includes insights into human life, behavior, and psychology.[30]
Articles
Silk has written numerous articles addressing topics such as Chinese business expansion,[31] Taiwan's investment law,[32] China's state secrets law,[33] post-Mao environmental protection,[34] and infrastructure policy in the U.S.[35]
When sworn in as Deputy Assistant Secretary, Silk used an ancient Tikkun kor'im originally owned by Rebbe Mordechai of Nadvorna, from his grandfather's ancestral hometown. [36][5]
↑ Silk, Mitchell A. (1985). China's marine environmental protection law: The dragon creeping in murky waters (Occasional papers/reprints series in contemporary Asian studies): Mitchell A Silk: 9780942182736: Amazon.com: Books. School of Law, University of Maryland. ISBN0942182731.
↑ Silk, Mitchell A. (1994). Taiwan Trade and Investment Law (Maryland Studies in East Asian Law and Politics Series; 12): Mitchell A. Silk: 9780195852899: Amazon.com: Books. Oxford University Press. ISBN0195852893.
↑ Silk, Mitchell A.; Tan, Seth (December 6, 2021). Dancing with Giants: A Lawyer and Banker Share Their Passion for Infrastructure Finance. Li Xiang. ISBN978-1733133470.
↑ ספר קדושת לוי: The Classic Work by the Chassidic Master Rabbi Levy Yitzchak of Berditchev. ArtScroll. February 14, 2024. ISBN978-1422638996.
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