[CTC] Biden urged to consider Tai for top USTR slot

[Arthur Stamoulis]

— Support appears to be growing for Katherine Tai <https://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=defe98269e1998f0f055ad7dcbcad83bef0a853686f1a06a0a1aaa3d6fd1b83e78245fde1a563cc1a816f9f91c9f1ad5> to make an unprecedented leap from her job as House Ways and Means’ top trade lawyer to become the next U.S. trade representative under President-elect Joe Biden.

TAI COULD BE THE ONE: <https://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=defe98269e1998f028ef16ab5c83de07cfb08702eeb02ebe278b7512228a56e1e6e355497b04013144737968b73b5b5b> Multiple members of Congress, including members of both parties in the Senate, have suggested Tai as a potential USTR in conversations with the Biden transition team, four officials on Capitol Hill and another veteran trade lawyer told Morning Trade’s Gavin Bade. 

The lawmakers include Ohio progressive Sen. Sherrod Brown <https://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=defe98269e1998f09782dd6b7d5a25f6d1997a5e20e3fd84d25ce25e5b8d910cfbbcb6767a492c58274d25695d492a6e>, whose office confirmed that he supports Tai for the position. 

Current U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is a former Hill staffer who did work for the Senate Finance Committee, as did former USTR Susan Schwab. But both also had stints as deputy USTRs before getting the top job in the agency. 

Still, Tai is well-liked both by progressives and more business-friendly Democrats. She’s also a familiar face with members of the Senate Finance Committee, who would have to approve whoever Biden selects to be USTR. 

In addition, Tai knows her way around USTR since she previously headed the agency’s China enforcement office. Tai, who speaks Chinese, would also be the first Asian-American to hold the job. She would be the fourth woman. 

But there are other, more prominent names in contention for USTR <https://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=defe98269e1998f0e7e35dfd5a8a11a8128f78d64aeaf256857041e893a6f507bd503f741cc605af0ea79afb15a34205>, including Rep. Jimmy Gomez <https://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=defe98269e1998f0f9eddda0fb3247ba96b5e7a102518177628cb1162ac5c00c25c0461665b0bbf60bf0bc8f7a79ee06> (D-Calif.), a Ways and Means member who has expressed interest in the position. And some believe a politician may be better suited for the fence-mending with allies that the Biden administration is expected to do after four years of President Donald Trump. 

The Biden transition team declined to comment.



Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826

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