President Biden will nominate Doug McKalip as the U.S. Trade Representative’s next chief agricultural negotiator. McKalip is a longtime USDA advisor and expert in agriculture and trade.
The nominee has served as the senior advisor to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack on trade, national security, and animal and plant health regulations since March 2021.
Reuters says U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai calls McKalip a highly-qualified nominee with decades of experience in public service.
“His institutional knowledge of USDA spans multiple administrations, from leading different offices to serving as a trusted adviser to Secretary Vilsack,” Tai says, “and he will help us continue the close collaboration between our agencies that’s enabled a lot of success.”
The chief ag negotiator directs USTR’s negotiations aimed at boosting U.S. farm exports, such as the recent agreement allowing more American beef exports to flow into Japan. McKalip is in year 28 of working with the USDA.
Many of agriculture’s leading groups and officials are reacting positively to the expected nomination of McKalip.
The U.S. Grains Council says McKalip will be able to use his strong background in farm and trade policy and his knowledge of biotechnology to advance U.S. global trade priorities.
American Soybean Association CEO Stephen Censky says, “Doug understands the challenges facing agriculture, and we’re glad to have his expertise added to the USTR team.”
Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall called McKalip a “government professional a wide experience in agricultural issues”.
He added, “It is crucial that this position be filled without further delay so existing agreements can be strengthened and new agreements with the European Union, Great Britain and in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework can be explored. We are ready to work with Mr. McKalip and Ambassador Tai to ensure a level playing field and advance the important work of expanding agricultural trade opportunities for America’s farmers and ranchers.”
The National Corn Growers Association is also pleased to see this nomination in place, as is the National Milk Producers Federation.
Source: NAFB News Service
