The US Senate did what was expected on Wednesday in confirming Michael Froman as the next US trade representative. With only four senators against and 93 in favour, it was unusually smooth by Capitol Hill’s standards. And rightly so. As a veteran of the Obama and Clinton administrations Mr Froman is well known to counterparts and has the ear of the Oval Office. And for the first time in years, Washington is pursuing a big trade agenda both in the Asia Pacific and across the Atlantic. It will be a far tougher battle to convince Congress to pass fast-track negotiating authority – an essential tool since Congress guarantees an “up or down” vote on any deal. Passing it should be a priority. Having so strongly endorsed Mr Froman, it would be a travesty were Congress to send him half-naked into the negotiating chamber.
美国参议院确认迈克尔•费罗曼(Michael Froman)为美国下一任贸易代表，此举符合外界周三的预期。投票结果为93票赞成、4票反对。以国会山的标准来衡量，这项任命的通过可谓异乎寻常的顺利。确实应当如此。费罗曼是奥巴马(Obama)和克林顿(Clinton)政府的资深成员，在贸易代表圈子中知名度很高，而且说的话在总统面前很有分量。美国政府目前正同时在亚太地区和大西洋对岸推进庞大的贸易议程，这是多年来的头一次。要说服国会给予费罗曼在谈判中的“快车道”(fast-track)授权，将面临一场艰难得多的战役。这种授权至关重要，因为国会保证会就任何协议进行“直接”表决(up or down vote)。让国会同意给予费罗曼这种授权应该是当务之急。既然国会如此强烈地支持费罗曼担任贸易代表，如果让他两手空空地走上谈判桌，那简直是滑天下之大稽。