Times ex-editor confirmed as deputy trade representative

The Senate last week confirmed the nomination of Josette Shiner, a former managing editor at The Washington Times, as deputy U.S. trade representative.

Mfs. Shiner, associate trade representative for policy and communications since May 2001, will play a role in formulating U.S. trade policy for Africa and Asia.

"Mrs. Shiner has a wide-ranging and strong background in policy, journalism and the private sector. Her present and past work experience make her a very able candidate for the job in front of her," said Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican and chairman of the Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade issues.

His office confirmed the Friday confirmation.

Mrs. Shiner helped direct the U.S. preparation and participation in the World Trade Organization trade talks in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001 that began a new round of global trade negotiations.

She also has participated in the negotiations that brought China and Taiwan into the WTO.

At her nomination hearing in June, she said continuing priorities would include opening markets and ensuring that nations live up to their trade obligations.

"Increasingly, the United States will need to devote resources to monitoring, enforcing and ensuring that others implement their trade commitments," she said.

China has been an especially troubling partner to domestic U.S. businesses, which accuse the communist country of paying workers poor wages, manipulating its currency and flooding the U.S. market with cheap goods.

Prior to joining the U.S. Trade Representative's Office, Mrs. Shiner served as the managing director of Starpoint Solutions. The Wall Street-based technology firm does considerable amounts of business with Fortune 500 clients.

Before her tenure at Starpoint, Mrs. Shiner was the president of Empower America, the organization created by prominent conservatives such as former U.N. Ambassador Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Jack Kemp and drug czar Bill Bennett, both of whom served under the first Bush administration. At Empower America, she helped the group formulate its agenda on issues such as tax cuts, expanding free trade and education reform.

Mrs. Shiner also worked in the press for more than 20 years. She was deputy managing editor of The Washington Times from 1985 to 1992. She then was promoted to managing editor of The Times, a position she held until 1997.

She was born on June 12, 1954, in Orange, N.J. Mrs. Shiner received her bachelor in arts degree from the University of Colorado in 1976.

Mrs. Shiner replaces Jon M. Huntsman as deputy U.S. trade representative. Mr. Huntsman resigned earlier this year to return to his home state of Utah, where he will become chairman of Huntsman Family Holdings Corp.

The Senate also confirmed the nomination of Jim Jochum as assistant secretary for import administration at the U.S. Commerce Department, the Senate Finance Committee said in a news release. The position is responsible for administering the U.S. trade remedy laws.