NCC Welcomes Vilsack and Tai Nominations

By Cotton Grower Staff|December 14, 2020

The National Cotton Council (NCC) looks forward to working again with U.S. Agriculture Secretary appointee Tom Vilsack on matters ranging from sustainable, climate smart agriculture to international trade opportunities and the farm safety net.

The NCC is also optimistic about working with Katherine Tai, an attorney with the House Ways and Means Committee who incoming President Biden has nominated to be U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for his administration.

NCC Chairman Kent Fountain said, “The U.S. cotton industry believes that Tom Vilsack has the credentials necessary to help restore the economic health of our nation’s rural sector that has suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also are optimistic he will work to ensure that Sunbelt farmers’ needs are fairly considered in USDA policy decisions.

“Many members of the cotton industry had the opportunity to work closely with Secretary Vilsack during his previous tenure and found he was open-minded and solution-oriented,” added Fountain. He noted that during his previous eight years as agriculture secretary, Vilsack also proved himself “to be a very capable leader and a champion of American agriculture and this nation’s farmers.”

Tai is the former chief counsel on China trade enforcement at the Office of USTR during the Obama administration. The cotton and textile industries are acutely focused on the importance of fair and reciprocal trading relationships that offer opportunities for the cotton industry to expand exports of cotton fiber, yarn and fabrics.