The Trump administration now has an ambassador to the World Trade Organization, as well as a head agricultural negotiator as it enters the eighth round of NAFTA renegotiation talks.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Monday swore in Dennis Shea to serve as U.S. ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Gregg Doud to serve as chief agricultural negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
The Senate confirmed Shea and Doud on March 1.
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., lifted his hold on Doud last month after getting assurances from Trump administration trade officials that they’d engage with him regarding a U.S. NAFTA proposal to make it easier for U.S. producers of seasonal and perishable items to bring antidumping and countervailing cases against competing imports.
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., lifted his hold on Shea in February after USTR pledged to increase engagement with Scott’s office on trade issues of concern, including those affecting his constituency, such as global safeguard tariffs the Trump administration put on washing machines in January.
Newberry, S.C. hosts a Samsung washing machine production plant.
Shea served for 11 years as a member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, and was either chair or vice chair every year from 2012 to 2017.
Doud was president of the Commodity Markets Council – the leading trade association for commodity futures exchanges and industry participants – from 2013 until he was nominated for his current position in June.
Prior to that, as a senior professional staff member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Doud also helped craft the 2012 Senate Farm Bill.
Lighthizer swears in two deputies
