Wyden Puts Hold On Some USTR Nominees over NAFTA

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has put a hold on some nominees for positions at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) as he said that folks are in the dark about NAFTA negotiations. "It's my intention to not support moving from the committee any additional trade nominees until federal law is complied with and the summaries are actually updated," Wyden said at a hearing on Kevin McAleenan to head the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.The block would apply to two deputy positions at USTR – Dennis Shea to be U.S. ambassador to the World Trade Organization and C.J. Mahoney to be deputy USTR for China, Africa and the Western Hemisphere. The action, however, would not impact other trade nominees including McAleenan and those of Gregg Doud to be the USTR chief ag negotiator, Jason Kearns to be on the U.S. International Trade Commission and Jeffrey Gerrish to be a deputy USTR. Doud and Kearns were approved by voice votes by the panel Tuesday and Gerrish was approved on a 15-11 vote.