[CTC] Republicans Silent on Tai Nomination

[Arthur Stamoulis]

Politico Morning Trade

— Congressional Republicans are keeping quiet about President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of Katherine Tai to be U.S. trade representative, while cheers continue to roll in from many others in Washington.
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REPUBLICANS SILENT ON TAI NOMINATION: If anyone in Washington has a problem with Biden nominating Tai as U.S. Trade Representative, they aren’t saying so publicly.

Praise for the House Ways and Means lawyer rolled in Thursday from disparate corners of the trade world, bringing frequent adversaries together to support a nominee who many insiders know from congressional trade negotiations, but has little profile with the public. 

The most negative reaction has been silence from a key constituency — Senate Republicans. Both Mike Crapo,  <https://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=714842eec37952944c670d8f4a2403c81800546101853de6caf59038c37282fbbb3d60b078b07be798f2c965bfde7425>who will lead the Finance Committee if the GOP holds the Senate, and Chuck Grassley <https://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=714842eec37952940a5b6863c2bd717b323a46fc28d35087e72f0f4090f57d65544f8dd6d9f51b88efd36c147db78a87>, the outgoing Finance chairman, declined to comment on her nomination.

House Ways and Means ranking member Kevin Brady <https://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=714842eec3795294638217cb544d2423231823c33bc70414858064591e903986583cc1f0dd7fec8d038e4e62f89f9d71> (R-Texas) also remained quiet, and USTR’s press office declined to say whether U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer had offered congratulations. Both men, as well as Grassley, know Tai personally from her service on Ways and Means over the past several years. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also did not issue a statement on Tai’s nomination. Instead, a spokesperson at the organization said the business group “congratulates all nominees to the Biden administration cabinet. The men and women announced to date are respected and pragmatic leaders, with deep experience.”

Elsewhere, however, praise for Tai remained effusive, even among veterans of the Trump administration. Kelly Ann Shaw, a former Trump trade adviser, called Tai a “superstar” on Wednesday. Clete Willems, who preceded Shaw at the White House, said Tai is “the right person for this moment,” and touted her “unimpeachable China trade enforcement credentials.”

And Nasim Fussell, who was Grassley’s chief international trade counsel until August, told Morning Trade she has “a lot of respect for Katherine as a friend and former colleague, which was never impeded by our serving different teams. She understands the intricacies of the thorny trade issues we are facing, and she will have a unique appreciation for the great importance of working closely with Congress and stakeholders on these issues.”

Throughout the selection process, Tai’s backers touted her as someone who could placate the disparate elements of the U.S. trade world, from trade-skeptical labor unions to the laissez faire industry groups who want Biden to slash tariffs. 

So far, she seems to be accomplishing it. Americans for Free Trade, the National Council of Textile Organizations, American Iron and Steel Institute, American Chemistry Council, American Apparel & Footwear Association and the National Association of Manufacturers were all among the business groups that voiced support for Tai, despite the Chamber’s muted response. 

“We worked extensively with her to ensure the USMCA’s passage, she is quick to listen to manufacturers’ concerns, and she has frequently briefed our members on ongoing trade issues,” NAM said in its statement.

Combine that with labor support from the Teamsters, the AFL-CIO and others, and it seems the Tai pick may end up being one of the least controversial nominations Biden has announced so far. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka called Tai a “worker champion” whose nomination “signals a stark departure from the failed practices of the past.”


Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826




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