The US Senate has confirmed Julie Callahan as the next USTR chief agricultural negotiator. She was confirmed en bloc with dozens of nominations on a party line 53-43 vote.
Her long government service, including as an Assistant US Trade Representative, was acknowledged even by Democrats who opposed her confirmation.
“Dr. Callahan is a very experienced trade negotiator,” said top finance Democrat Ron Wyden.
But Wyden and other Democrats opposed to the president’s tariff policies voted against her.
GOP Finance Chair Mike Crapo said agriculture was on board, “as reflected by the over 80 trade associations supporting her nomination.”
Callahan’s Senate confirmation was hailed by numerous farm groups like the Corn Refiners Association and the US Grains and Bioproducts Council. Callahan said at her confirmation hearing she’d work hard to reopen China–and not just to soybeans.
“Sorghum, beef, a number of commodities, cotton, across the board…but China, across the board, has been weaponizing agriculture.”
Callahan’s confirmation comes at a key moment, as the US prepares for the upcoming review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement with two of US ag’s most important trade partners.