More than half a dozen senior trade officials have walked out the door at the U.S. Trade Rep’s office.
According to Politico, those staffers were unhappy with what they are calling a “stalled trade agenda” as well as the leadership of Trade Rep. Katherine Tai. Both current and former officials say the exits include the White House point person on Global Economics as well as two trade deputies on the President’s worker-centered trade policies.
Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden says the exits raise questions about Tai’s trade agenda. Tai has defended her moves despite pushback.
“Our traditional trade models and traditional FTA’s have led us to a place where we are facing a considerable backlash that we are listening to from our own people about concerns regarding the offshoring and outsourcing of American jobs and opportunities through these types of arrangements.”
Since taking office, President Biden has focused on a worker-centered trade agenda versus tools like tariffs used by the Trump Administration. These could be large factors in this year’s election, especially in manufacturing and farm states.
