"Pesticide-Industry Rep Picked for Trade Post Draws Fire"

"A coalition of advocacy groups launched a campaign [Tuesday] opposing President Obama's choice of a pesticide industry official to represent U.S. interests in agricultural trade negotiations.

The 85 groups -- including Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, the Organic Consumers Association, the National Family Farm Coalition and dozens of state farm worker groups -- sent a letter today to the Senate Finance Committee opposing the nomination ahead of a scheduled confirmation hearing [Wednesday] for Islam Siddiqui.

Obama tapped Siddiqui last month to be the chief agriculture negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative."

Allison Winter reports for Greenwire November 3, 2009.

Source: Greenwire, 11/04/2009