[asia-apec 1699] US Trade Representative chosen

[APEC Monitoring Group]

>From World Bank Development News, Friday January 12, 2001

US TRADE NEGOTIATOR CHOSEN.
Robert Zoellick, under-secretary of state for economics in the previous Bush
administration, has been named by President-elect George W. Bush as US trade
representative, while Bush stressed that free trade was at the heart of his
foreign policy priorities, says the FT (pp. 1& 4). The position is a full
cabinet member despite speculation that it might be downgraded. Robert Zoellick
brings extensive experience to the job, including work for James Baker in the
mid-1980s. Among Mr. Bush's commitments on trade policy is to "forge ahead with
free trade negotiations, including extending NAFTA throughout the Americas",
says the FT.  Zoellick has criticized the Clinton administration for providing
only rhetorical support for these goals and being constrained by its supporters
among unions and environmental groups, particularly at the WTO's 1999 tallks in
Seattle, the paper says.

In other nomination news, the WSJE reports Bush met with Stephen Goldsmith,
mentioned to head the proposed White House "office of Faith-based programs" that
would coordinate government assistance to religious organizations that provide
social services.

The New York Times (p.A4) reports that US Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), the most
powerful critic of foreign aid in Congress, said yesterday that he would
champion an increase in international assistance-but only if all future US aid
was funneled to the needy through private charities and religious groups instead
of a government agency.  Helms said he modeled his proposal after
President-elect Bush's campaign theme of empowering private relief groups to
help the poor.  If adopted by the administration and Congress, Helms' plan would
mark the most decisive shift in 40 years in how America helps the world's
downtrodden, the story says.