Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 13 • Number 8 • 4th March 2009
Obama Names Former Governor Gary Locke to Commerce Post
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Former Washington Governor Gary Locke is US President Barack Obama’s pick to lead the Commerce Department, the White House announced last week. Accepting the nomination Wednesday, Locke vowed to “harness the resources and the talent of the Department of Commerce” to help the administration fulfill its “commitment to the American people to build a stronger and more prosperous nation.”
Locke’s nomination to the Commerce post is the third such announcement that Obama has made in recent months. Initially, the key position was to be filled by New Mexico governor and once presidential challenger Bill Richardson, who withdrew his acceptance of the position in January amidst a state contracting investigation. In February, the administration tapped Republican Senator Judd Gregg for the position; however, Gregg withdrew several days later citing a policy split with the administration, particularly regarding the US economic recovery package (see BRIDGES Weekly, 18 February 2009, http://ictsd.net/i/news/bridgesweekly/41032/).
In the White House press release, it was clear that the Obama administration looked forward to a pro-stimulus Secretary in Locke. The release highlighted the importance of the position for economic recovery under the plan, noting that the recovery package would “save or create three and a half million jobs over the next two years,” with “90 percent of those jobs created in the private sector.”
The state of Washington is one of the most trade-dependent in the US, and during his two terms as the nation’s first Chinese-American governor, Locke was very active in developing international commerce. As governor, Locke was seen as instrumental in drafting a salmon treaty with Canada, increasing the state’s exports to China to over US $5 billion annually, opening a state trade office in Germany, and leading ten trade missions to Asia, Mexico and Europe.
Accepting the nomination last week, Locke indicated that he intended to lead an active commerce branch. “The Department of Commerce plays a critical role in nurturing innovation, expanding global markets, protecting and managing our ocean fisheries, and fostering economic growth. The Department of Commerce can and will help create the jobs and the economic vitality our nation needs,” said Locke.
Obama was enthusiastic about the nomination.
“Gary will be a trusted voice in my Cabinet, a tireless advocate for our economic competitiveness, and an influential ambassador for American industry who will help us do everything we can, especially now, to promote our industry around the world,” the president said at a press conference.
Locke now must be confirmed by the US Senate before he can assume the post, a process undergone by neither Richardson nor Gregg, who both withdrew before hearings could commence.
Joking with reporters, Obama referred briefly to the previous nominations.
“I’m sure it’s not lost on anyone that we’ve tried this a couple of times, but I’m a big believer in keeping at something until you get it right.”
“Gary is the right man for this job,” he said.
ICTSD reporting.
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