New White House Tougher on Trading Partners

NAFTA issues likely to loom large over visit

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama makes his first foreign trip as president today to Canada, and his talks there are likely to touch on some thorny trade issues, the New York Times reports. Obama spoke forcefully in favor of reopening NAFTA while a candidate, but intends to focus on strengthening the US-Canada trade relationship in his discussions with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, according to advisers. More»

Free-trade Democrat among few Southerners tabbed for cabinet

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama will announce former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk as his nominee for trade representative tomorrow, the Dallas Morning News reports. Kirk, who ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2002, is pro-trade and a staunch supporter of NAFTA. Kirk campaigned extensively for Obama, and is one of the few Southern faces in Obama’s proposed cabinet. “He’s an incredibly impressive guy,” Bill Clinton’s trade secretary said. More»

Move aims to cut down on government bureaucracy

(NEWSER) - President Obama will today announce a plan to mash together six federal agencies—including the Commerce Department—in an effort to simplify the government's sprawling regulatory bureaucracy. Obama can't actually make the move without Congressional approval, however, so he intends to ask Congress for a special reorganizational power—last held by Ronald Reagan—that would allow him to propose mergers and guarantee him an up-or-down vote on each merger from Congress within 90 days. The Wall Street Journal reports that some lawmakers may be wary of granting the Obama this fast-track authority, as they wouldn't be permitted to amend any of his proposals. More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s birthday is right around the corner—no matter where Lou Dobbs thinks he was born—but what do you get the leader of the free world? Politico asked various Washingtonians their thoughts for Tuesday's big occasion. Some notable responses:

• Joe Biden: “It’s a surprise!”
• Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah): “The ShamWow, so he can help clean up this financial mess. He may need a couple, but as I recall, you get two for one.”

November's G-20 agreement is abandoned as nations erect commerce barriers

(NEWSER) - The global recession has protectionism making a comeback, the New York Times reports, dimming hopes that leaders can create lasting solutions to the crisis at April’s Group of 20 economic summit in London. The last G-20 meeting, held in November, yielded an agreement to promote free trade that was quickly abandoned, with 17 members since adopting 47 measures restricting trade. More»