In his second try to fill the put up, President Biden nominated Doug McKalip on Wednesday to be the U.S. chief agricultural negotiator, working with U.S. commerce consultant Katherine Tai. The put up has been vacant since Biden took workplace, to the rising dismay of farm-state lawmakers and the agribusiness sector.
Since March 2021, McKalip has labored as commerce adviser to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. He was director of the White House Rural Council through the Obama period and labored on agriculture and rural points as a employees member of the White House Domestic Policy Council. During three a long time within the federal authorities, McKalip has held quite a lot of USDA posts, together with performing chief of employees for Vilsack throughout his first stint as agriculture secretary.
Senate Finance chairman Ron Wyden mentioned McKalip “has an impressive history” in selling U.S. agricultural merchandise. The Finance Committee has jurisdiction over the nomination.
“The chief agricultural negotiator position is essential when it comes to growing new markets abroad and protecting our producers from unfair trade practices,” mentioned Senate Agriculture chair Debbie Stabenow. “That’s why I’ve led my colleagues in urging the White House to fill this important position.”
McKalip “has worked on every aspect of farming” throughout his years on the USDA and the White House, mentioned Vilsack. He mentioned McKalip “has demonstrated a consistent ability to tackle difficult issues and to develop bipartisan solutions to challenges when opposing views exist.”
Biden initially nominated Elaine Trevino, a California agriculture government, for the agricultural negotiator’s put up final September. She withdrew from consideration 4 months later after operating into opposition within the Senate.