WASHINGTON-Former Motorola Inc. executive Susan Schwab is in line to become the nation’s top trade negotiator.
President Bush last week said he intends to nominate Schwab, currently deputy U.S. trade representative, to succeed Rob Portman at the trade post. Portman was reassigned to head the Office of Management and Budget, a job held by Joshua Bolten before being named chief of staff to Bush. Bolten is taking over for Andrew Card as part of an evolving shakeup in the Bush administration.
In addition to her government trade background, Schwab previously served as director of corporate business development for Motorola, dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and legislative aide to former Sen. John Danforth (R-Mo.)
“The deputy U.S. trade representative for the past five months, Ambassador Schwab worked tirelessly to open up new markets, and at the same time, making sure our people were treated fairly. Her trade portfolio covered several continents, and she led USTR efforts in a number of vital policy areas, including intellectual property enforcement,” said Bush. “Susan also worked closely with Ambassador Portman to advance the Doha negotiations. Now she will use her experience to help complete the Doha round and create other new opportunities for American exporters.”
China, whose President Hu Jintao met with Bush last week, is home to massive piracy of intellectual property rights. It is unclear whether Schwab can be effective in persuading China to curb IPR theft and helping troubled global trade talks stay on track. Schwab represented Motorola’s interests in Asia. Motorola has been in China, the world’s top cell phone market, since 1987. The Schaumburg, Ill.-based company earlier this month inked a sales framework deal with China National Postal and Telecommunications Appliances Corp. The agreement to have PTAC sell Motorola GSM phones in China reportedly is valued at more than $300 million.
“USTR has an equally ambitious bilateral and regional agenda-including ongoing negotiations with 14 countries to dramatically reduce trade barriers, to set important precedents for future trade negotiations, and to grow a critical mass of countries that recognize the immense benefits that come with more open international commerce,” said Schwab. “Here, again, holding our trading partners accountable through enforcement of existing trade laws and agreements will continue to be a critical component of our trade agenda.”
