[Ip-health] Rep. Becerra Offered Post of US Trade Representative

[Mike Palmedo]

Rep. Becerra Offered Trade Representative Post

CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS =96 TRADE
Dec. 2, 2008 =96 4:00 p.m.
By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff

Rep. Xavier Becerra , D-Calif., has been offered the post of U.S. Trade
Representative in the incoming administration of President-elect Barack
Obama , according to Democratic sources.

Becerra is weighing whether to give up his House seniority and newly won
spot as vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus to take the Cabinet-level
post, a source close to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus said. But
another Democratic source said the job has been offered and accepted.

Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said she could not confirm that
Becerra would become USTR and noted that the post will not be announced
at Obama=92s scheduled Wednesday press conference.

If Becerra does take the trade post, his departure could touch off a
scramble for the leadership job he won just two weeks ago by defeating
Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur by a vote 175-67.

It also would open a coveted seat on the Ways and Means Committee, where
he is a senior member.

Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Joseph Crowley of New York
were among the Democrats who chose not to challenge Becerra for the vice
chairmanship, which opened up when Rep. John B. Larson of Connecticut
ran for and won the caucus chairmanship left open by Rep. Rahm Emanuel ,
D-Ill., who will be leaving the House to become Obama=92s White House
chief of staff.

Whoever becomes the next U.S. Trade Representative will face some
difficult challenges. Most congressional Democrats =97 and some
Republicans =97 have become increasingly disillusioned with free trade
agreements, worrying about their impact on domestic industries and jobs.

Change of Direction

Obama has been a critic of Bush era trade deals, and may be slow to
enter into new ones. At a minimum, his administration is likely to
insist on stronger labor and environmental standards in countries
looking for trade deals with the United States.

President Bush has pressed the current Congress to approve a pending
free trade deal with Colombia before adjourning for the year, but
Democrats have shown little inclination to do so.

Unions and other critics of trade liberalization argue the Nov. 4
election results were a clear signal that the public is opposed to
further trade agreements, and Democratic action on the Colombia deal
would prompt a backlash from organized labor and other groups.

While Bush was able to push through several trade initiatives during his
eight years in office, including a 2002 renewal of fast-track trade
negotiating authority and 2005 passage of the Central American Free
Trade Agreement, the pace has slowed considerably since Democrats
captured control of Congress in 2006.

In 2007, the White House and congressional Democrats reached a deal on
how labor and environmental standards should be dealt with in trade
pacts. But only one =97 with Peru =97 has won approval since then. Becerra
voted for that deal (PL 110-138) in 2007 after opposing the 2005 CAFTA
deal (PL 109-53).

Earlier in his career, the California Democrat , who was first elected
in 1992, voted for the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement
negotiated by the administration of President Bill Clinton. That 103rd
Congress was the last time a Democratic president was presenting trade
agreements to a Democratic-controlled Congress.

=97 Joseph J. Schatz contributed to this story.

--
Mike Palmedo
Research Coordinator
Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property
American University, Washington College of Law
4910 Massachutsetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20016
T - 202-274-4442 | F 202-274-0659
mpalmedo@wcl.american.edu