The US has a new trade chief. What supply chains can expect on tariffs and China.

By Shefali Kapadia

Trade didn’t make it into the Biden administration’s seven immediate priorities. It’s not a subject where analysts and former trade representatives expect to see big moves or a flurry of activity.

But that hasn’t deterred newly-confirmed U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

“I don’t expect, if confirmed, to be put on the back burner at all,” Tai said at her confirmation hearing Feb. 25.

The Senate confirmed Tai to the cabinet position Wednesday on a vote of 98-0, after the Senate Finance Committee backed her unanimously.

Addressing China — from unfair trade practices to human rights abuses against Uyghurs — is a priority for the Biden administration, according to the president’s 2021 trade agenda. Tai is well-suited to lead that strategy, given her experience in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as Chief Counsel for China Trade Enforcement and litigating disputes on China export controls. Plus, she speaks fluent Mandarin.

“She’d be in a very good position to set priorities on what should be the changes to seek with China,” said Peter Allgeier, former deputy U.S. Trade Representative, prior to Tai’s confirmation.

Read on Supply Chain Dive.