Senate confirms USTR agricultural trade nominee after last-minute jockeying

The Senate confirmed Doug McKalip to be the chief agricultural negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, after months of delay and last-minute negotiations over his nomination.

An array of bipartisan farm sector groups have pushed for the swift confirmation of McKalip, a former senior adviser to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, since President Joe Biden tapped him for the role in June. But a handful of senators, including Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), held up the nomination, citing separate concerns with USTR or USDA.

Hagerty lifted his hold on the nominee after tense talks with USDA and other lawmakers over Hagerty’s opposition to stricter federal regulations for the walking horse industry in his home state, according to Senate aides. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) lifted his hold on McKalip after a meeting with USTR Katherine Tai on Wednesday, as POLITICO first reported.

McKalip’s confirmation, by voice vote, follows the Senate on Wednesday approving another agricultural trade nominee, Alexis Taylor, to be the top trade official at USDA. The move comes as the U.S. is struggling to address the fast-spreading trade and food security fallout of Russia’s war in Ukraine that has roiled commodity markets.

The USTR chief ag negotiator role, which has been vacant since Biden took office after his first pick withdrew from consideration, has been a source of criticism from farm-state senators, especially Republicans who have argued the president's trade policy is not focused enough on agriculture.

USDA food safety nominee: The last-minute jockeying included USDA officials and others encouraging Hagerty to also lift his hold on Biden’s pick to oversee food safety at USDA — Jose Emilio Esteban.

Esteban has been the chief scientist for USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, which oversees proper food packaging and labeling. His confirmation, also by voice vote, now elevates him to the agency’s highest role as undersecretary.

Food safety has been especially critical at USDA since the coronavirus pandemic hit and outbreaks spread among workers at meat processing plants, disrupting commercial meat and egg supply chains. A series of avian flu outbreaks are also currently threatening egg and chicken supply chains, as USDA officials try to contain the spread.

Prior to joining USDA, Esteban worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an epidemic intelligence service officer, staff epidemiologist and assistant director of the Food Safety Office.