Trent Lott: “I am satisfied that he will be confirmed, and he should be confirmed. He has a tremendous record in terms of education…”

“I am satisfied that he will be confirmed, and he should be confirmed. He has a tremendous record in terms of education and experience and previous administrations in the private sector. I believe he will be a strong USTR. I want to add that I am very much concerned about what I see happening in the trade area. I want the U.S. Trade Representative to be strong. I am concerned about dictates I have seen in the past by both Democrat and Republican administrations, where the State Department or the Commerce Department goes to the White House and stops our Trade Representative from enforcing the trade laws. Free trade, yes, but also fair trade and enforce the laws on the books. Canada is not dealing with us fairly when it comes to soft wood lumber and wheat. Our closest neighbor, perhaps our best friend in the world, and we cannot get them to live up to the trade agreement we have with them.”