Stakeholders, Politicians Welcome Tai's Nomination for USTR
President-elect Joe Biden announced Dec. 10 that he's selecting House Ways and Means Committee Chief Trade Counsel Katherine Tai to be the next U.S. trade representative, saying that her deep experience will allow the administration to “harness the power of our trading relationships to help the U.S. dig out of the COVID-induced economic crisis and pursue the President-elect’s vision of a pro-American worker trade strategy.”
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House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., said in a statement after the announcement, “I cannot speak highly enough of Katherine Tai.” He said she had a key role behind the scenes getting changes to the USMCA that secured widespread support for its passage in Congress. “Elected officials across the political spectrum, labor leaders, and the business community all trust Katherine, and for good reason. Her exceptional experience and expertise are rivaled only by her understated grit and sterling character,” he said. “While I am very sad to see Katherine leave Ways and Means, she is absolutely the best choice for this critical position and I look forward to continuing to work with her in her new capacity. As the United States seeks to repair strained relationships with our partners around the world and address increasingly perilous challenges from China, Katherine will be an honorable and effective representative for this nation, our people, and our interests.”
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Tai has “an unparalleled depth of experience,” and said he hopes the Senate will confirm her quickly. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, who is expected to lead the Finance Committee next year if Republicans are in the majority, declined to comment on the nomination.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who would lead the Finance Committee if Democrats win two seats in Georgia, said it was terrific that Biden chose Tai because of “her record of getting wins for American workers demonstrates she knows how to champion the values that matter to U.S. families. She worked closely with me and my staff to craft the strongest ever protections for American workers in a trade agreement, and pass them into law with bipartisan support.”
Many stakeholders also praised the choice, including the American Apparel and Footwear Association, which said she strikes a careful balance between trade facilitation and enforcement. The National Council for Textile Organizations called her exceptional, and said she'd be a powerful and thoughtful advocate for American workers and the environment.
The International Dairy Foods Association noted that with her Hill experience, she's well positioned to push for a reauthorization of Trade Promotion Authority, which would be needed for any comprehensive trade agreement. “On day one of President-Elect Biden’s Administration, the U.S. trade situation will be complex at best. Complexities emerging around the world -- from North America to Asia, from Europe to Africa -- require the United States to quickly and effectively negotiate preferential trade agreements with U.S. trading partners that include meaningful access for U.S. dairy and other food and agricultural goods,” CEO Michael Dykes said.
The American Iron and Steel Institute said, “we have always found Katherine to be willing to listen to industry concerns on issues that are critical to steel producers and their workers.” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka called the selection “a resounding victory for our families and communities,” and said that her “nomination signals a stark departure from the failed practices of the past.”