US: Rob Portman is the new trade representative

President Bush has nominated a former international trade lawyer to be America's new trade representative. President Bush wants Ohio Congressman Rob Portman to lead America's efforts to sell more goods overseas. The president says he wants a vigorous enforcement of existing trade laws and the completion of the Doha round of the &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/economics/2002/11/19/39684.html ' target=_blank>World Trade Organization to reduce global trade barriers. If confirmed by the Senate, Congressman Portman would succeed Ambassador &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/economics/2001/09/27/16332.html ' target=_blank>Robert Zoellick who has gone to the State Department as a deputy secretary. Congressman Portman has served in Congress for 12 years and sits on the House Ways and Means Committee which has jurisdiction over trade. He was active in the president's re-election campaign, particularly in his home state of Ohio, which the president narrowly won, publishes the VOA News. According to Bloomberg, Portman, who has been in &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/368/15083_bolivia.html ' target=_blank>Congress since 1993 and is a member of the trade panel of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, has acted as a liaison between Republican congressional leaders and the White House. A former trade lawyer at Patton Boggs LLP in Washington, Portman also served as director of the White House's lobbying affairs in 1989 through 1991 under George H.W. Bush, the current president's father. NR

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