USTR Nominee Talks Trade Barriers, China During Confirmation Hearing

Katherine Tai is the new administration’s nominee for U.S. Trade Ambassador, and she spoke to the range of issues that affect grain export sales, a major market-mover in today’s U.S. marketplace. Tai has worked in the trade sector in the past, having worked to hold China accountable to its trade obligations. She’s familiar with the nation and called them a “rival, a trade partner and an outsized player,” and recognized the importance of the nation’s cooperation in the global export market. Among Tai’s priorities if confirmed in the trade leadership position will be investments in domestic infrastructure that can contribute to improved U.S. competitiveness on the global export market. Meanwhile, she joined newly confirmed USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack in expressing desire to diversify U.S. global ag trade through shoring up “frictions” in the USMCA trade deal and a potential new agreement to sell U.S. ag products in the UK. See more from Tai’s confirmation hearing.