WH Nominates Nelson Cunningham for Deputy USTR

McLarty Associates co-founder Nelson Cunningham has been nominated to replace Jayme White as deputy U.S. trade representative. White was responsible for negotiations in the Western Hemisphere, Europe and the Middle East, and also had some labor and environmental issues in his portfolio.

Cunningham was a special adviser to former President Bill Clinton on Western Hemisphere affairs, and was general counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee when Joe Biden chaired that committee.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai issued a statement that said: "Nelson Cunningham knows that trade policy operates at the intersection of domestic economic and foreign policy and he will be an excellent addition to our team at USTR. His work in the White House, on Capitol Hill, and in the private sector will provide a valuable perspective as we navigate the evolving landscape of the 21st century global economy. "

The deputy nomination must be confirmed by the full Senate.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., was cool to the announcement. “Experience representing the interests of multinationals is not the same as considering the views of workers in Toledo and small business owners in Medford" he said, referring to the cities in Ohio and Oregon, respectively.