USTR Negotiators Set to Depart Agency Following TPP Wrap-Up
Three officials at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative are in the process of departing the agency, said a USTR spokesman and industry officials. The highest-ranking member of that departing squad, Acting Deputy USTR Wendy Cutler, will join the Asian Society Policy Institute on Nov. 2, that organization said in a release (here). "Wendy has worked tirelessly to open new markets in Asia for American workers and businesses," he said USTR Michael Froman in a statement. "I’ve been privileged and honored to serve with her for the past few years, as she helped lead TPP negotiations to a successful conclusion." Marisa Lago, a Treasury Department official, was nominated to formally take over the deputy USTR title, though Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, threatened to block the Lago nomination over transparency concerns (see 1508170017).
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Gail Strickler, assistant USTR for textiles and apparel, is poised to leave the agency after some tumultuous months in her position. Strickler had largely been stripped of her negotiating role in TPP (see 1503160071). The National Council of Textile Organizations praised her in a statement. “As an industry veteran and textile scientist, Gail brought a well versed and highly unique perspective to her post,” said NCTO. “Her work with the industry on agreements such as TPP and [the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership] was greatly valued and appreciated.” Cutler will rejoin private sector, said the USTR spokesman.
The other TPP negotiator set to leave the agency is Doug Bell, assistant USTR for trade policy and economics. Bell "just joined" Treasury as a senior trade and development official, said the USTR spokesman. The Oct. 5 conclusion to TPP negotiations paved the way for the departure of all three, the spokesman said. "The end of a long, intense negotiation is a natural time for people to consider their next opportunities," he said.