In December, then President-elect Obama announced his pick for the next United States Trade Representative (“USTR”), former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk. The new President made brief, but important, comments on trade policy when he introduced Kirk striking a balanced tone between the importance of trade to the U.S. economy and the need for a new approach on trade -- just as he promised on the campaign trial. It will largely fall to Kirk and the new senior leadership at the Office of U.S. Trade Representative to develop and implement the President’s goals.

However, it is likely to be several months before the President himself can focus on trade. President Obama and the Congress are intensely focused on enacting a massive economic “stimulus” package that should be completed in the next few weeks. Following that, it is expected the President will turn to major reform of America’s financial markets with many of his other stated priorities -- health care reform, environmental protection, energy policy -- jockeying for position to be “next in line.” Thus, it is not expected that the new administration will seriously tackle trade issues until the second half of 2009.

That said, a lot of work is going to take place with USTR-designate Kirk and the new senior leadership at the USTR in the months ahead to try to fashion a new policies that advance the President’s vision on trade. The broad parameter’s of his vision were laid out during the President’s announcement last month. The President called for enhanced trade as part of the effort to turn around the economy: “We must engage in strong, robust trade and open doors for American products.” At the same time, the President made clear that greater consideration for labor and environmental protection, as well as shielding American workers from the effects of trade, will be a major part of his trade agenda: “…there is nothing inconsistent about standing up for free trade and standing up for American workers.” President Obama indicated that once Kirk becomes USTR, he will ensure that, “any agreement I sign as President protects the rights of all workers, promotes the interests of all Americans, strengthens business and preserves the planet we all share.”

It will be interesting to see how Kirk balances this support for NAFTA with the adamant opposition to free trade agreements by organized labor, which played a strong role in electing President Obama and are expecting a major “roll back” of the Bush Administration trade policies. Following the President’s announcement, labor and their congressional allies reacted with responses that ranged from “wait and see” to outright skepticism. For example, a leading critic of current trade policy, Congressman Mike Michaud (D-Maine), issued a statement saying: “I am deeply concerned about the choice of Ron Kirk because his past trade policy positions do not reflect the views of most Americans.”

A representative of the AFL-CIO indicated that the union would “reserve judgment” on Kirk. Many other labor supporters of the President issued cautious statements and almost all vowed to “closely scrutinize” the President’s choice. That process will start with the upcoming confirmation hearing, though Kirk should easily win Senate confirmation.