About
James Christie joined W.L. Bryant Co. in 1993 and became managing director of Bryant Christie Inc. in 1996. He opened the Sacramento office and was named president of BCI in 2002. James is a primary member of the firm's global access group and works closely with the market development group. As president, he serves as BCI's chief financial and executive officer.
For over three decades, James has led a wide range of market access and development projects on behalf of BCI clients. As a result, his efforts have helped open new markets and reduce trade barriers for U.S. agricultural products in Australia, Mexico, China, Japan, Chile, Morocco, New Zealand, South Korea, Vietnam, the CAFTA-DR region, and other target markets.
In addition to his business and management responsibilities, James has served on the North American Plant Protection Organization's advisory committee and was appointed by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to serve on the USTR/USDA Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. During his tenure on the committee, James advised three administrations on trade policy issues impacting U.S. agricultural producers. As a firm believer in the value of public-private partnership, James has also been a proud member and sponsor of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) throughout his career. He was elected to serve on the USAEDC’s Executive Committee in 2005 and 2008.
While James’s early career centered on opening and developing new global markets for U.S. agriculture, he increasingly spent more time on pesticide residue standards related to trade. In the early 2000s, advances in pesticide residue testing and enforcement led countries to set unique national maximum residue level (MRL) standards, increasing the potential for MRL-related trade barriers. To prevent major trade disruptions, James led BCI’s collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and USDA to develop and manage the BCGlobal MRL Database, now owned by FoodChain ID. This internationally recognized comprehensive database allows exporters to compare pesticide standards across over 155 countries, mitigating risks and facilitating compliance.
Prior to joining the firm, he served in senior management roles for the California Cherry Export Association, the California Cherry Advisory Board, and the California Cling Peach Advisory Board.
In addition to his BCI leadership and professional endeavors, James has been a lifelong volunteer and advocate for agricultural education in his local community. He is particularly proud of his volunteer work with the Future Farmers of America (FFA), where he founded the Delta High School Buyers’ Group for the Sacramento County Livestock Auction and helped establish the Delta Education Vineyard for Delta middle and high school students. James also remains active in the management of his family's California farm operation, a sixth-generation farm in Walnut Grove, CA where he and his wife raised two daughters.
James is a graduate of the University of California at Davis with a degree in fermentation science and an emphasis in agricultural economics. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in International Marketing, from the University of California at Irvine.
