The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the nomination of Islam "Isi" Siddiqui to be chief agricultural trade negotiator in the U.S. Trade Representative's office. Critics say if confirmed he would favor big agribusiness over small farms and organic farmers. Siddiqui spent time during the hearing defending is position, and 46 mainstream agriculture groups have signed letters backing Siddiqui's nomination.
A senior farm trade official during the Clinton era, Siddiqui has been a vice president since 2001 at the chemical trade lobby CropLife America. Environmental groups say that job should disqualify him from consideration for the new position. Siddiqui deflected criticism when he told committee members, "All the allegations ... and attacks which I have seen are directed at the trade association that I worked for, for eight years. There is no evidence in my public service of 32 years where I made any disparaging remarks against organic or sustainable development."
More than 80 groups, including small-farm, organic, and environmental organizations, have asked the Senate committee to reject Siddiqui's appointment because he is too close to businesses that make chemicals and genetically modified crops. The groups say Siddiqui's record and statements show his clear bias in favor of chemical-intensive and unproven biotechnology practices that imperil both the planet and human health while undermining food security and exacerbating climate change.
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