More than 100 food and agriculture organizations say Katherine Tai is “eminently qualified” to be the next U.S. Trade Representative.
In a letter to Senate Finance Committee leaders, 115 food and ag groups threw their support behind Tai, a former staffer on the House Ways and Means Committee, and urged her confirmation. They say she is “deeply familiar” with USTR’s mission and its role in “opening foreign markets and reducing barriers for U.S. food and agriculture workers and exporters.”
“We especially value Ms. Tai’s demonstrated ability to build bipartisan support for trade policies,” the groups noted. “We submit that these capabilities are essential to the success of the next Trade Representative in addressing the most pressing trade policy issues, including trade relationship challenges with China and the European Union, as well as enforcement of existing trade agreements and tackling non-tariff barriers to trade.”
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According to the letter, companies represented by the associations employ more than 23 million people, or about 15% of total U.S. employment. A similar show of support was recently issued for Ag Secretary nominee Tom Vilsack.
The committee has yet to announce a date for Tai’s confirmation hearing.
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