Jan Hoogmartens has been the chief of staff to the Belgian minister of foreign affairs, European affairs and foreign trade in Brussels since July 2023. A career diplomat, he was before that ambassador to China and Mongolia and ambassador to COREPER I and deputy permanent representative of Belgium to the EU. Other previous diplomatic assignments include another tour of duty at the Belgian Permanent Representation to the EU and one in Japan. Hoogmartens has also served as chief of staff to the Belgian minister of home affairs, deputy chief of staff to the foreign minister, and diplomatic advisor to the prime minister. Holder of a PhD (law) from the University of London and a master’s degree in laws from the University of Hong Kong and KU Leuven/Heidelberg University/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Jan Hoogmartens is concurrently pursuing an active academic career in Belgium, the United States, and China and has authored several articles and books on EU trade law. He is fluent in Dutch, French, English, and German.