Over A Year Into The Administration Chief Ag Position Remains Unfilled At USTR

The White House and U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai are under new pressure to fill the Chief Ag Negotiator position, following the unexpected withdrawal of Elaine Trevino. Impatience is growing across farm country as USTR remains without a top ag negotiator more than 14 months into the administration.

“It’s an expression, I think, of priorities, and I can tell you that there are a lot of farmers and ranchers and agricultural producers, growers around this country, who are very, very concerned that the promotion of agricultural exports be a priority," said South Dakota Republican John Thune during a recent Congressional hearing focused on trade. "And it doesn’t seem like it is.”

“Senator Thune, we have nominated one, and I’m very grateful for Elaine Trevino’s willingness to serve, and I look forward to working with her in another capacity she will take on in the Biden Administration," Tai responded. "At the moment, I’m working very hard with our administration to name a new Chief Ag Negotiator nominee.”

Tai insisted she fully backs the importance of Ag trade, though both parties’ lawmakers sharply criticized the administration for resisting calls to do new trade deals; deals Tai billed as outdated and opposed by those who fear offshoring of U.S. jobs.

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