I said some very complementary things about the US Trade Representative office earlier today. It reminded me that I wanted to comment on a post by Rich (All Roads Lead to China) last week on statements made by Ambassador Alan Holmer.
Holmer was speaking on the US-China Strategic Economic Dialog negotiations, and Rich was impressed that Holmer's comments were so moderate and even-handed, particularly as compared to the stuff being written by the mainstream media.
I am not surprised. Here is a guy who used to be at USTR (General Counsel and later Deputy) and co-chaired Sidley & Austin's trade practice in D.C. He was also president and CEO at PhRMA, the drug industry's lobbying organization, for several years. Heck of a resume.
This is a guy that does not need to use cheap rhetoric. Based on his CV, he's exactly the kind of guy you want heading up the SED team.