WASHINGTON, June 19, 2013 – United States Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman was easily confirmed by the Senate today, 93-4. Froman will take office just weeks before Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations begin July 8.
President Obama said today he was “pleased” to hear of the confirmation. “Mike has been my closest advisor on a broad range of international economic issues and will continue to play a key role on my economic team,” the president said. “He’s trusted and well-respected by our partners around the world, and for the last several years, he’s been a driving force behind our international economic agenda.”
In his previous role as deputy national security advisor for international economic affairs within the White House, Froman was instrumental in pushing the president to open TTIP negotiations at the beginning of this year.
Froman is also a close personal friend of Mr. Obama, a fact political insiders believe will lend credibility to the new USTR. Froman and the president met while students at Harvard Law School.
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