The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Katherine Tai to serve as U.S. Trade Representative.
Tai became President Biden?s first cabinet pick to receive unanimous support after the Senate confirmed her nomination by a 98-0 vote. In a recent conference call with farm reporters, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley said he was impressed by Tai?s work and that he planned on supporting her nomination.
?Everything she answered orally encourages me to vote for her,? Grassley said. ?Also, even though I didn?t work with her personally, she was a part of Congressman Neal?s Ways and Means team that worked with my team. I had nothing but good things to say about her.?
Grassley noted that it?s unknown what the Biden Administration?s trade policies will be. During the Trump Administration, Tai served as the top Democratic trade counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee. She played a big part in the negotiation process for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, more commonly referred to as USMCA.
?She will be approved a long time before we know exactly how the Biden Administration is going to handle the UK,? said Grassley, ?whether they are going to get into TPP again, what they are going to do in regard to China, and what they are going to do in Sub-Saharan Africa like Trump was starting with Kenya. I think you?re going to get well into the middle of the year before you see any direction. So, I think we?re just going to have to wait awhile.?
Tai becomes the first Asian American woman and first woman of color to fill the U.S. Trade Representative spot since the position was created 60 years ago. She has received support from many Ag groups including the U.S. Meat Export Federation, American Farm Bureau Federation, and the Renewable Fuels Association.
Statement from American Farm Bureau: ?AFBF congratulates Katherine Tai on her confirmation to serve as the next United States Trade Representative. We have a great opportunity to build on existing agreements with China and our North American neighbors, as well as create new opportunities with the European Union and the United Kingdom. Ms. Tai?s ability to build bipartisan support for policies and her experience with enforcing fair-trade rules will help America?s farmers and ranchers compete internationally and continue putting food on tables around the world.?
Statement from Renewable Fuels Association: ?We congratulate Ambassador Tai on her bipartisan confirmation to become our nation?s top trade negotiator and look forward to working with her to pursue new trade opportunities for our industry and address existing trade challenges. Ambassador Tai is an extremely knowledgeable and skilled trade negotiator, having long served as trade counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee and having been instrumental in numerous key negotiations and trade agreements over the years. In a time of extreme partisanship, the fact that her confirmation was unanimous is a testament to her abilities and the confidence that she has earned from members on both sides of the aisle. We are eager to collaborate with Ambassador Tai to help the U.S. reestablish strong trade relationships and reengage with a number of top and emerging markets important for the U.S. ethanol industry.?
