Trade Expert Named Top U.S. Trade Representative
Jan. 11 -- Robert B. Zoellick, one of the most influential figures at the State Department in the previous Bush administration, is poised to take on a leading role on foreign economy policy as a member of President-elect George W. Bush's Cabinet.
The younger Bush named Zoellick, who worked closely with former Secretary of State James Baker III, a Bush family friend, nearly a decade ago, to become U.S. trade representative with Cabinet rank.
The trade representative, which carries the rank of ambassador, is the chief U.S. negotiator in trade talks with other nations. The post traditionally has been given Cabinet rank, a designation Bush decided to keep.
Zoellick will face a daunting number ofchallenges — from heading off trade wars with Europe toensuring that China meets its market-opening obligations.
But the tallest order of all for the president-elect's top trade negotiator could be overcoming anti-free tradesentiment at home and smoothing over bitter divisions inCongress over whether future U.S. trade deals should protectworkers and the environment.
Free Trade at America's Core
Zoellick says he believes free trade is at the core of America's strengths.
"Free trade is about freedom," Zoellick says. "It's important for our economy, but also for America's other interests and in values throughout the world. I've always believed that openness is America's trump card. It makes us stronger as a people, and it makes us more dynamic as a nation."
When Baker was treasury secretary in the Reagan administration, Zoellick served as his executive secretary, controlling the paper flow into Baker's office. He later was undersecretary of state for economic affairs when Baker headed the State Department in the elder Bush's administration.
He replaces outgoing Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky, who leaves in the middle of negotiating a Free Trade Area of theAmericas and market-opening agreements with Chile andSingapore.
He is also expected to take the lead in shepherdingBarshefsky's landmark trade deals with Vietnam and Jordanthrough a potentially hostile Congress.
