From ABC’s The Note:

ABC News’ Teddy Davis Reports: Saying that he has come to the realization that trade is not a priority for the incoming Obama administration, Rep. Xavier Becerra has decided not to accept Barack Obama’s offer to be United States Trade Representative, according to an interview the California Democrat gave to the editorial board of La Opinion, a Spanish-language newspaper in Los Angeles.

“Mi preocupación es qué tanto peso hubiera tenido esta posición y llegué a la conclusión de que no sería prioridad número uno, quizá ni siquiera dos o tres,” Becerra told La Opinion.Translated to English, Becerra said, “My concern was how much weight this position [U.S. Trade Representative] would have and I came to the conclusion that it would not be priority No. 1, and perhaps, not even priority No. 2 or 3.”

With all due respect, esperamos que no es correcto.

(Hat tip: Stephen Sprueill)

BusinessWeek, “Obama Said To Pick Xavier Becerra for US Trade Rep”

Is another key economic post about to be filled by President-Elect Barack Obama? Even as he called a Chicago press conference to announce the expected nomination of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to head the Commerce Department this morning, Washington was filled with talk that he has settled on a little-known California Congressman to be US Trade Representative. Congressional Quarterly reported that Obama has asked Xavier Becerra , who has represented Los Angeles in the House of Representatives for 15 years, to fill the key post. The US Trade Representative is the government’s primary negotiator on trade agreements such as the now stalled Doha Round—aimed at expanding trade in services and other sectors and reforming agricultural subsidies—or pacts such as those set with Columbia and South Korea which are stuck in Congress.

The story cites a number of business and free-market sources concerned about Becerra’s mixed record on trade — anti-CAFTA, anti-trade promotion authority, but pro trade agreements with Peru and Chile. While he voted for NAFTA, he now expresses regrets. We note that Becerra has been moving up on Ways & Means and had leadership aspirations — recently being elected caucus vice-chairman — making party-loyal votes increasingly important.

We collected Rep. Becerra’s votes on NAM Key Votes related to trade since the 106th Congress (1999-2000).

You can read them in the extended below.

UPDATE (6:20 p.m.): From Reuters:

“Looking at his voting record, he’s certainly not a protectionist and he’s certainly not a total free trader,” said Frank Vargo, vice president for international economic affairs at the National Association of Manufacturers.

“If he were selected, I would not see it as a sign the administration is throwing in the towel on trade. I believe he would have an open mind and be pragmatic.”

Vargo said he was convinced Obama and manufacturers share the same goal of expanding trade, despite some differences.

(continue reading…)