TPP negotiator joins Trump White House

Trump’s new special assistant on international trade, investment and development on the National Economic Council once helped guide negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Andrew Quinn, a former deputy chief negotiator of the TPP who was hired by the agency as deputy assistant USTR in 2012, joined the council on Monday.  [Adam Behsudi| February 28, 2016 |Politico]…

Details

Senate Confirms Wilbur Ross as Commerce Secretary

WASHINGTON—The Senate on Monday confirmed Wilbur Ross as Commerce secretary, an appointment key to enabling President Donald Trump to make progress on a campaign promise to overhaul U.S. trade policy. [William Mauldin | February 27, 2016 |The Wall Street Journal] The vote was 72-27, with those opposing Mr. Ross questioning his foreign investments. Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) told…

Details

Jeff Ferry Published on The Hill: However you measure it, free trade agreements have failed

Washington’s latest trade controversy has blown up over a dispute over differing sets of statistics for measuring our foreign trade. Trump administration officials are advocating for wider use of export/import measures that exclude pass-through goods, while Commerce Department officials advocate the older measures, total exports and total imports. by Jeff Ferry, appears on The Hill The newer…

Details

Former Trump trade adviser: The world’s foremost authority on trade could be Trump’s next target

The senior adviser who led President Donald Trump’s trade transition team suggested to Business Insider that the next trade agreement that could come under fire from the White House was the US’s participation in the World Trade Organization. [Allan Smith| February 26, 2016 |Business Insider] Dan DiMicco, the former Nucor CEO and board member of…

Details

ROSS’ SIDE PROJECT: MAKE AMERICA FIRST ON SEAFOOD

Wilbur Ross is expected to emerge as the Trump administration’s leading voice on trade after the Senate votes tonight to confirm him as Commerce Department secretary. He’s already singled out a surprising pet project: Reducing America’s reliance on seafood imports.  [Megan Cassella| February 27, 2016 |Politico] “Given the enormity of our coastlines, given the enormity of our…

Details