Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 14 • Number 12 • 31st March 2010

After Delay, US Fills Two Key Trade Posts

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US President Barack Obama has forced the appointment of two important trade officials after months of political delays in the US Senate. New Deputy US Trade Representative and Ambassador to the WTO Michael Punke and Chief Agricultural Negotiator Islam “Isi” Siddiqui have been confirmed thanks to recess appointments Obama announced on 27 March. They will take office shortly.

A native of Wyoming, Punke has nearly 20 years of experience in international trade policy. He has worked as International Trade Counsel to Democratic Senator Max Baucus of Montana, Director for International Economic Affairs at the White House, and Senior Policy Advisor at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Punke has also done several years of private consultancy work, advising clients on foreign trade issues.

“Michael Punke will be a valuable asset as WTO Ambassador as USTR works to conclude a balanced and ambitious Doha Round of trade negotiations,” USTR Ron Kirk said in a statement after the announcement, referring to the eight-year-old negotiations round.

Punke has lived in Missoula, Montana since 2003 but will immediately move to Geneva, Switzerland to start his new responsibilities.

Born in India, Siddiqui served in the California Department of Food and Agriculture for 28 years as well as in the US Department of Agriculture during the Clinton Administration in various capacities. He recently worked as an executive of CropLife America, a trade association of pesticide and plant science companies.

The Indian press quickly picked up on the fact that an Indian-American has been appointed to lead the US delegation in the WTO farm talks. A high-level summit of the WTO’s Doha Round trade talks collapsed in July 2008 largely due to a squabble between the US and India over agriculture.

Siddiqui’s appointment drew criticism from the Center for Biological Diversity, a US environmental group, which pointed out the new official’s ties to agri-business. “Dr. Siddiqui’s confirmation is a step backward,” said Tierra Curry, a scientist at the CBD. “His appointment ensures the perpetuation of pesticide- and fossil-fuel-intensive policies, which undermine global food security and imperil public health and wildlife.”

The confirmation of Punke and Siddiqui may help mollify WTO delegates irked at how long they have had to await the arrival of their US counterparts. Many have criticised the US for the delay in the confirmation of its high-level WTO representatives, saying that it shows a lack of US engagement and has slowed progress in the Doha Round trade talks.

Republicans in the Senate have blocked confirmation votes on many of the administration’s nominations. Punke and Siddiqui are only two of the 15 “recess appointments” that Obama made on 27 March, the first day of lawmakers’ Easter holiday.

During a congressional recess, US presidents are allowed to get around the usual Senate confirmation process by making appointments on an interim basis. Punke and Siddiqui may thus serve until the end of the current Congress, although Obama stated the appointees will remain in the Senate for confirmation.

“If, in the interest of scoring political points, Republicans in the Senate refuse to exercise that responsibility, I must act in the interest of the American people and exercise my authority to fill these positions on an interim basis,” Obama said on Saturday.

ICTSD reporting; “Obama recess appointments include help for trade ambassador Ron Kirk,” DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 27 March 2010; “Obama uses recess appointments to fill 15 posts,” WASHINGTON POST, 28 March 2010.