Olympia Snowe: “My reason for investigating this nomination was simple: to make certain that this nominee could be counted on to defend…”

“My reason for investigating this nomination was simple: to make certain that this nominee could be counted on to defend United States. interests in the trade arena, and to ensure that her past legal work for Canadian entities would not in any way influence the exercise of her duties as United States Trade Representative. Ms. Barshefsky's written responses to my questions, and on her responses to the questions of other senators and the Finance Committee, indicate that her nomination does not pose any such problems. As has been widely reported, Ms. Barshefsky worked, while an attorney for a Washington, DC, law firm, for several Canadian entities. But as her responses to the Senate detail, this work amounted to a tiny fraction of the total over the course of her 18-year career as a trade attorney in private practice. In fact, Ms. Barshefsky has certified to me and to the Finance Committee that her work for all Canadian Government entities represents less than 1 percent of the total hours that she spent working while in private practice. Furthermore, Ms. Barshefsky states in her responses to me that she never lobbied the U.S. Government on behalf of any foreign government or political party. I also questioned Ms. Barshefsky closely regarding her commitment to defend American interests in the arena of international trade. Ms. Barshefsky's responses are unequivocal.”