Bush Picks Portman as Budget Director, Nominates Schwab for new USTR (4-18-06)

President George W. Bush named U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Rob Portman the new director of the Office of Management and Budget on Tuesday and nominated deputy USTR Susan Schwab as the new USTR.

Schwab has been a deputy USTR since November 2005. She has been responsible for trade policy development, negotiation and implementation of several issues and regions, including Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. She has also been involved in the U.S. strategy in the World Trade Organization Doha Round talks. Schwab also concluded bilateral free trade agreements with Colombia and Peru.

“NCGA looks forward to working with Susan Schwab as the U.S. Trade Representative,” said Jon Doggett, NCGA vice president of public policy. “She has extensive experience with the WTO Doha talks and agricultural trade policy.”

Portman replaces Joshua Bolten, who became Bush’s chief of staff. Portman spent most of his time in office working on the WTO Doha talks. He was also a key figure in the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement with Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

“We appreciate the work of Rob Portman over the past year,” Doggett said. “We had a good relationship with him when he served in the House of Representatives and as the Trade Representative.  We look forward to a continued good relationship as he moves to OMB.”

Schwab now faces confirmation from the Senate.