Menendez eyes defense bill as best hope for bill to establish an IG at USTR

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) last week proposed an amendment to the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act that would create an inspector general position in the Office of the U.S Trade Representative to help “increase transparency and accountability” in the agency. Menendez, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and sits on the Finance panel, has been dissatisfied with USTR’s level of consultations with Congress and its overall transparency in trade negotiations. The senator has worked to establish an...