WASHINGTON — Rep. Robin Hayes (R, N.C.) introduced legislation Wednesday that would boost the rank of the special textile negotiator to ambassador to give more clout at the trade bargaining table.
Historically, the position within the U.S. Trade Representative’s office was considered the “chief textile negotiator” and carried the diplomatic title of ambassador, but it was downgraded four years ago to “special textile negotiator” and stripped of the ambassador’s title without any public explanation.
Hayes said he introduced the bill after receiving a letter critical of the decision from the National Council of Textile Organizations, American Apparel & Footwear Association and National Cotton Council last month.
“We believe the situation undermines the credibility of U.S. textile and apparel negotiators,” the letter said. “We are aware of several instances in recent years when U.S. negotiators were unable to represent U.S. interests because they did not carry the same title as their counterpart foreign official. U.S. textile and apparel interests should not be penalized because of such misperceptions.”
Hayes’ bill would reinstate the chief textile negotiator title and confer a rank of ambassador on the position, requiring Senate approval. It would also make the current textile negotiator, Scott Quesenberry, the acting chief textile negotiator until he is confirmed by the Senate.
“When you have equals negotiating on level ground, it improves the situation,” Hayes said.
The USTR’s office had no comment on the bill. But a spokesman said Quesenberry “has tremendous authority and access to negotiate on behalf of the U.S.”
Cass Johnson, president of NCTO, pointed to several instances where foreign negotiators called into question the U.S. textile negotiator’s authority. He cited tension and confusion during the U.S.-China textile bilateral negotiations in November 2005, more recent pocketing and lining negotiations with Central American negotiators and the Doha Round of global trade talks.
Stephen Lamar, senior vice president at the AAFA, said, “There have been a couple of instances where there was some confusion as to whether or not Scott was doing the negotiating because he didn’t have the ambassador’s title that his counterparts did. I think what this does is try to eliminate any confusion.”
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Julia Hughes, vice president of international trade at the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles & Apparel, said the designation should not be given to the U.S. textile negotiator because many other foreign textile negotiators do not have the title. “We have seen Scott in his role at USTR and it certainly has not had any negative impact on his ability to conduct negotiations,” she said.