Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 13 • Number 38 • 4th November 2009

US Senate Considers Two Key Trade Appointments

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The United States Senate Finance Committee convened on Wednesday to consider the nominations of Michael Punke for the position of ambassador to the WTO, and Islam Siddiqui, who has been nominated to serve as Washington’s chief agriculture negotiator.

The outcome of the hearing, which had yet to end as Bridges Weekly went to press, will likely be closely watched in Geneva. Many WTO delegates have blamed the US for the slow pace of the Doha Round trade talks, saying that Washington has failed to show a strong commitment on trade. Since the September departure of Washington’s previous WTO ambassador, Peter Allgeier, many officials have also complained about a lack of Geneva-based US personnel.

So far Punke’s nomination has been supported by various agriculture groups and trade associations, such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Coalition of Service Industries, and the US Chamber of Commerce. In a letter dated 28 October, the supporters urged Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and Ranking Member Charles Grassley to confirm Punke’s position, saying that they feel strongly that the ambassadorial post should not be left vacant at a time when US economic interests are on the line in the WTO’s Doha Round trade talks.

“[Punke's] work on international trade and investment policy on Capitol Hill and in the White House, the Office of the US Trade Representative and the private sector has allowed him to hone his natural political skills, so that he can put his knowledge to work immediately - without the need for on-the-job training - for the benefit of all Americans,” the letter explained.

Siddiqui’s nomination has met with some controversy, as it has been opposed by many environmental and agriculture groups, including the National Family Farm Coalition, the Pesticide Action Network, and the Organic Consumers Association. In a statement on 27 October, these groups said they oppose Siddiqui’s nomination due to his ties to CropLife America, a federation of major US-based agribusinesses including Monsanto, Dupont and Syngenta.

“Putting a CropLife official and former paid lobbyist in charge of US agricultural trade policy sends the worst kind of message to the world: that the United States continues to place the vested interests of our massive chemical pesticide/biotech industry ahead of concern for public health, the environment and the well-being of farm workers and communities around the world,” said Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, senior scientist at Pesticide Action Network.

Siddiqui is, however, supported by a variety of food and agriculture groups as well. In a letter to Baucus and Grassley supporting his nomination on 21 October, groups like the National Milk Producers Federation and the National Council of Farmer cooperatives announced that they believe Siddiqui, who has served as a senior trade advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture, brings significant experience to the position.

“In order to achieve progress on the critical agricultural trade issues of concern to the undersigned companies and trade associations, we believe it is critical to fill this key position without delay, and we can think of no more capable individual than Isi Siddiqui,” the letter said.

ICTSD Reporting; “Finance Committee To Consider Punke, Siddiqui Nominations Next Week,” DAILY NEWS, 29 October 2009.