Trade Veteran Doug McKalip Nominated as USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator
On Wednesday, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Doug McKalip as the Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative. McKalip is in his 29th year of federal service as an agriculture policy leader and trade expert. Since March 2021, he has served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on all agricultural matters relating to trade, national security, animal and plant health regulations, and a wide portfolio of domestic and international issues. McKalip formerly served in a leadership capacity in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Biotechnology Regulatory Services. He served as a Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture from 2015 to September 2016, and also as Acting Chief of Staff
Citing the recent success in gaining market access for U.S. fresh potatoes throughout Mexico, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai released a statement saying, “Since taking office, the Biden Administration has expanded market access for our agricultural industry and delivered U.S. agricultural products to customers around the world. As a result of our close work with USDA, we are finally exporting fresh potatoes to Mexico, shellfish to the European Union, pork products to Vietnam, and most recently, bringing more U.S. beef to Japan.
“USTR’s Chief Agricultural Negotiator will play a pivotal role in maintaining and building on these successes on behalf of America’s workers, farmers, ranchers, and producers. Doug McKalip is a highly qualified nominee with decades of experience in public service. His institutional knowledge of USDA spans multiple administrations, from leading different offices to serving as trusted advisor to Secretary Vilsack, and will help us continue the close collaboration between our agencies that has enabled so much success,” Tai concluded.
Secretary Vilsack also welcomed the nomination, saying, “Doug McKalip is highly qualified and exceptionally capable of serving the American people as Chief Agricultural Negotiator. Having served as a key agriculture policy official for nearly three decades, he has worked on every aspect of farming from soil conservation, and the supply chain to dealing with sensitive trade and national security matters. Through his service, he has represented American farmers around the world and advocated for U.S. agricultural products and technology.”
National Potato Council Vice President of Trade Affairs and grower from Washington state Ted Tschirky welcomed the news. “With one out of every five rows of U.S. potatoes destined for foreign markets, NPC is encouraged that an agriculture policy veteran like Doug McKalip has been nominated for this vital trade position. We look forward to working with Doug to support America’s potato growers and rural communities by expanding market access for U.S. potatoes,” said Tschirky.
