b'INDUSTRY OPTIMISTIC ASBIDEN TRADE POLICIES TAKE SHAPEDespite making fewIN DECEMBERof 2020, Mary Kay Thatcher149 and 126 appointments in their first five had some strong predictions for what wasmonths as president, respectively, accord-major announcementsto come in light of Joe Biden winning theing to the PPS.since coming to power, presidential election. Thatcher believes the administra-When it comes down to it, I thinktion is taking its time in vetting potential there are glimmers trade will change drastically, the seniorappointees. of how the new manager of Syngentas federal governmentBidens been pretty squeaky clean on and industry relations told Seed Worldnot accidentally putting forward a member U.S. administrationGroup at the time. that then is going to get rejected and kind Months later, shes not quite sure howof embarrass the administration.will approach cross- those drastic changes are going to play out. On April 15, U.S. Trade Representative border relationships.I think it would be too early to sayKatherine Tai gave her first speech as a theyve changed drastically, and to beBiden appointee.Marc Zienkiewicz honest with you, if you would have askedIn her remarks, delivered at a Center me six months ago, I probably would havefor American Progress event titled expected something major to happen byGreening U.S. Trade Policy, Tai said that now, she says. protecting our planet would be a top Still, she says, there are some tellingpriority of the administration, outlined signs that it might take a little time to seesome of the historical barriers to action, any dramatic developments in the world ofand called for what she termed innovative, trade with the Biden administration at thepragmatic and solutions-oriented ideas helm. from a range of stakeholders to meet the The biggest holdback is we just dontglobal challenge.have very many political appointees yet,The goal is to ensure that we and our and that seems odd to me, when youtrading partners are engaged in fair com-have a Democratic administration and apetition that does not suppress environ-Democratic senate that is going to confirmmental protection, she said. The United these people.States has been, and remains, the leader in As of June, Biden had confirmed 59rewriting trade rules so that they move us appointees. According to the Partnershiptoward this model of fair competition. for Public Service (PPS), 155 nominees are awaiting Senate confirmation, 17 awaitingTrade Evolutionformal nomination, and 324 positions haveTai made special mention of the United no nominee yet. States-Mexico-Canada Agreement That puts Biden behind Barack Obama(USMCA) as an evolution of American and George W. Bush, who had confirmedtrade policy.12GERMINATION.CAJULY 2021'