Tai, Adeyemo Unanimously Supported by Finance Committee

The Senate Finance Committee unanimously voted March 3 to forward to the full Senate the nominations of Katherine Tai for U.S. trade representative and Wally Adeyemo for deputy treasury secretary.

Finance ranking member Mike Crapo of Idaho complained before the vote that Tai's written responses (see 2103010026) were sometimes “less than fully responsive.” Tai did not promise that Congress would get negotiating information as a trade agreement is hammered out, he said. “Rather than confirming her understanding that USTR must provide negotiating proposals per the statute, Ms. Tai’s response noted she will ‘consult with the Committee on trade negotiations’ and on information flow,” Crapo said. “That is not good enough. It is a statutory imperative for the USTR to follow. Chairman Wyden, you and I are on the same page on this issue in particular. I hope this is something we can work together on to get the nominee to provide the appropriate assurances,” he urged Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

Still, Crapo said, “At her nomination hearing, Ms. Tai demonstrated that she has the training, background, experience and capabilities to fulfill the duties of the USTR, and to do that job well.”

Wyden said it's rare for a nominee to get as much bipartisan praise as Tai did. “On top of bipartisan cred, she knows precisely the kind of smarter and stronger approach this country needs on trade,” he said.

Crapo also praised Adeyemo, saying the nominee “is known for his bipartisan approach, working with members on both sides of the aisle during the Obama administration on issues such as currency manipulation, and I expect that approach to carry over into his new role at Treasury.”