by John Murphy

The White House announced today that U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer David Chavern has been appointed to the President's Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN). The committee is the senior-most body of the federal trade advisory committee system, established by Congress in 1974 to "ensure that U.S. trade policy and trade negotiating objectives adequately reflect U.S. public and private sector interests."

Chavern's long experience with trade policy reflects his years at the Chamber and his prior service in senior positions at the U.S. Export-Import Bank.

The year ahead promises to be a busy one for the American trade agenda. Over a year ago, the Chamber called for a national goal to double exports within five years; President Obama embraced this goal in his State of the Union address last January. In the wake of the midterm elections, the Chamber has advocated forcefully for trade to be an area of bipartisan cooperation in the 112th Congress.

Indications today that negotiators have found a path forward for the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement add to spreading optimism that Washington will be able to harness trade policy to create American jobs in 2011.

We're pleased the Chamber's David Chavern will be able to help lead the debate on this important committee.