By Doug Palmer
WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - California congressman Xavier Becerra appears to be a leading candidate to become President-elect Barack Obama's chief trade negotiator, U.S. business lobbyists said on Wednesday.
Becerra, a 50-year-old Democratic politician from Los Angeles, would be the first Hispanic to become U.S. trade representative if selected for the job.
He would be a surprise choice after early speculation focused on Dan Tarullo and Lael Brainard, who both worked in the White House on international economic issues under President Bill Clinton.
But Becerra's 16-year experience in Congress could help him repair some of the divisions on trade that have occurred during the eight years of President George W. Bush.
He would take over the job of chief U.S. trade negotiator as World Trade Organization members are anxiously eyeing the incoming Obama administration for signs of its commitment to struggling world trade talks launched in 2001.
A friend of U.S. labor groups, Becerra voted against the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in 2005.
The CAFTA fight was one of the most bitter trade battles of the Bush administration, with the agreement initially clearing the House of Representatives by only 1 vote.
Becerra also voted, along with most Democrats, earlier this year to block consideration of a free trade agreement with Colombia when Bush tried to force a vote.
But Becerra has supported other trade deals, including one Congress approved last year with Peru. He also voted in 1993, his first year in Congress, for the North American Free Trade Agreement that Obama has said he intends to reopen with Canada and Mexico to add stronger labor and environmental provisions.
AWAITING CONFIRMATION
Becerra serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade.
Congressional Quarterly's online publication reported on Tuesday that Becerra had been offered the post. However, neither Becerra's office nor the Obama transition team in Chicago would confirm that.
"Congressman Becerra is looking forward to serving in his newly elected post as House Democratic vice chair, and is focusing his energy and efforts in the work that lies ahead for him in the 111th Congress," a spokeswoman for Becerra said.
Business lobbyists, speaking on condition that they not be identified, said they had heard from sources on Capital Hill that Becerra was a top contender for the trade slot.
Industry sources also said former senior Treasury official Gary Gensler was a possible candidate to lead the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Gensler served as under secretary for domestic finance in the Treasury during the tenure of former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers. Summers has been tapped by Obama as the director of the White House National Economic Council.
Gensler works on Obama's transition team as a lead member of the team reviewing the operations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
He is a former partner at Goldman Sachs and worked as a top adviser to Maryland Sen. Paul Sarbanes, one of the authors of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Colombia University law professor and former SEC Commissioner Harvey Goldschmid was also believed to be a candidate for the top SEC post.
Goldschmid, a senior counsel at the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges, also served as special senior adviser to then SEC Chair Arthur Levitt for the first half of 2000.
(Additional reporting by Rachelle Younglai, editing by David Wiessler)