Kamal's

The man who will manage the future phases of US-Morocco's FTA... Nominated.

Here is a pitch from a washington paper:

BUSH NAMES REP. PORTMAN (R OH-2) AS NEW U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
In a surprise move, President Bush on March 17 tapped one of his closest congressional allies, Rep. Rob Portman (R OH-2), to be the next U.S. Trade Representative, giving the administration an insider’s influence in steering controversial trade pacts through Congress. Rep. Portman, 49, will succeed Robert B. Zoellick, who was confirmed by the Senate on February 16 as deputy secretary of State.

Rep. Portman has served as the GOP leadership’s liaison to the White House. He is also is vice chair of the Budget Committee and a member of the Ways and Means Committee and its Trade Subcommittee. Rep. Portman’s departure from the House is unlikely to result in a partisan turnover of the seat. Portman’s Second Congressional District, which includes part of Cincinnati, its suburbs and some rural territory in southern Ohio, is heavily Republican, and Democrats are not expected to stand much chance in a special election.