Michaud meets with Obama’s USTR transition staff

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mike Michaud met recently with members of President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team for the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Michaud, a co-founder of the House Trade Working Group, kept in touch with President-elect Obama during the campaign and organized a conference call with members of Congress interested in globalization issues.     The meeting was a continuation of that dialogue. Following Michaud’s meeting, the staffs of House Trade Working Group members met with the transition team.
    “I appreciate President-elect Obama’s team keeping in touch with members of Congress on trade policy and globalization issues,” said Michaud. “I know that the House Trade Working Group looks forward to working with the new administration to craft a trade agenda that will benefit our economy. President-elect Obama’s commitments to review existing trade agreements and to oppose passing more of the same Bush trade policies, including the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, are welcome changes in direction. We appreciate his commitment to consulting our group on a regular basis and I look forward to our continued dialogue.”
    The House Trade Working Group, co-founded by Michaud and Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (CA-39), advocates for fair trade policies in the House of Representatives. On June 4, 2008, Michaud introduced the TRADE Act, which requires a review of existing trade agreements, and a renegotiation of existing trade agreements based on that review. The bill also sets terms of what must and must not be included in future trade agreements and calls for strengthening the role of Congress in trade policymaking. The TRADE Act currently has 74 cosponsors and a broad array of support from a variety of outside groups.
    Michaud plans to reintroduce the legislation in the 111th Congress.