[Ip-health] Becerra refuses USTR appointment; the speculation continues

[Sarah Rimmington]

Names we are hearing about now include Harold Ford of Tennessee, former
Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, and to a lesser extent Dan Tarullo of Georgetown
law and Lael Brainard of Brookings.

1. Reuters: Business in dark about Obama trade pick
2. AP: Becerra won't take trade job

1. Business in the dark on Obama trade pick
Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:31pm EST

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. business still has few clues who will be the
next U.S. trade representative, but hopes it can work with
President-elect Barack Obama on an agenda to open markets around the
world, a top official at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said on Tuesday.

"I have no idea who that's going to be," Daniel Christman, senior vice
president of international affairs at the business group, told reporters
when asked who he expected Obama would pick to be the United States'
chief trade negotiator.

Rep. Xavier Becerra, a California Democrat who two weeks ago was thought
to be the top candidate for the job, is now expected to stay in the U.S.
House of Representatives, renewing speculation about who might be in
line for the trade post.

The list includes Dan Tarullo, a Georgetown University law professor and
former White House official who advised Obama during the campaign.

But many say they think Tarullo would rather be Treasury undersecretary
for international economic affairs.

Others seen as possible candidates are former Rep. Harold Ford, a
Tennessee Democrat who now heads the Democratic Leadership Council, and
Ron Kirk, a former mayor of Dallas who has acknowledged having talks
with the Obama transition team about taking a job in the new administration=
.

Becerra was recently elected vice chairman of the House Democratic
Caucus and is said to feel indebted to colleagues who elected him after
he pushed hard for the job.

Obama's trade and Commerce Department transition teams also revealed few
details of the president-elect's plans for trade in 2009 when they met
with the U.S. business group.

"The conversations were deep and extensive, but they were principally
focused on listening to our views," Christman said.

Obama promised during the campaign to reopen the North American Free
Trade Agreement to add stronger labor and environmental provisions,
raising fears in the business community about potentially open-ended
negotiations that could unravel or weaken the 14-year-old trade pact.

Obama also opposed approval of free trade agreements with Colombia and
South Korea, putting him at odds with the Chamber of Commerce and other
business groups.

Despite such differences, Christman said he was optimistic the business
group could find common ground with the Obama administration on trade.

The Chamber of Commerce supports an expansion of federal aid program to
help workers who have lost their job because of trade as an early step
in 2009 toward rebuilding bipartisan support for trade deals, he said.

(Editing by David Wiessler and Xavier Briand)

2. Becerra won't take trade job
Dec, 16, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) =97 Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., said Tuesday he will
stay in the House and pass on becoming U.S. trade representative in
Barack Obama's administration.

Becerra emerged as the leading candidate for the post and interviewed
with Obama earlier this month. In a telephone interview with The
Associated Press, he said he decided he wanted to stay in the House to
work on various issues, including immigration reform and universal
health care.

He said he'd informed the Obama team of his decision.

Becerra said he felt elated when first approached about the job, but
that ultimately "I wasn't sure if at the end I only wanted to be focused
on trade."

Becerra, who was just elected to his ninth term representing Los
Angeles, faced competing pressures in considering whether to accept the
Cabinet post.

He is moving up the ladder on the powerful House Ways and Means
Committee that writes taxes and oversees health care and trade, and was
just chosen vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

It could be difficult for another Latino to immediately replace Becerra
in the House Democratic leadership. Becerra said he heard from members
of the Latino community who wanted to ensure he was involved as Congress
grapples with immigration, health care, tax code reform and other issues.

"You all of a sudden find how much you're really wanted," Becerra said.

Becerra also had his family to think about. His wife, Carolina Reyes, is
a physician in Los Angeles, and he has three daughters, aged 15, 13, and
10, who live there, too.

With Becerra removing himself from contention, other names circulating
for the trade job include former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, also said to be
under consideration to become transportation secretary.

Kirk declined to comment Tuesday in response to an e-mail from the AP.
An Obama transition spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request
for comment.

--
Sarah Rimmington
Attorney
Essential Action, Access to Medicines Project
Washington, DC
Tel: (202) 387-8030
Cell: (202) 422-2687
www.essentialaction.org/access/