U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley will speak at the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 11.

Daley's lecture topic will be "Trade in the 21st Century: Latin America and Beyond." After the speech, Daley departs that evening to lead a major trade delegation of U.S. business executives on a trip to Latin America, with stops in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile.

As commerce secretary, a post he has held since January 1997, Daley oversees the federal agency that promotes American businesses, develops a vast array of economic statistics, conducts the census, issues patents and trademarks, sets industrial standards, conducts oceanic research and forecasts the weather. Throughout his term at Commerce, Daley has focused his energies on three priorities: trade, electronic commerce and efficient management of the department.

In 1993, he served as special counsel to the president, coordinating the successful campaign to pass the historic North American Free Trade Agreement. Formerly a lawyer and bank president in Chicago, he has a law degree from John Marshall Law School and a bachelor's degree from Loyola University.

The event, which is open to the public, will be in the Nitze Building's Kenney Auditorium. Members of the public who want to attend should make a reservation by calling 202-663-5636.