President Barack Obama’s attempt to push through legislation allowing for the swift passage of trade deals in Congress has been clouded by his nomination of senator Max Baucus as ambassador to China, removing a supporter of the effort on Capitol Hill.
Mr Baucus, a veteran Democratic lawmaker from Montana, is chairman of the Senate finance committee and, after months of delay, aides have signalled that he intends to introduce a bipartisan trade bill with Orrin Hatch, the top Republican on the panel, early next year.
But if confirmed to the China post, Mr Baucus would soon be leaving and vacating his chairmanship of the committee, taking him out of what is expected to be a fierce battle to gain congressional approval for the so-called trade promotion authority.