Is Xavier Becerra going to be the new USTR?

Reports Tuesday say that Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA) has been offered the position of U.S. Trade Representative.  Jonathan Allen reports in CQ Politics, Rep. Becerra Offered Trade Representative Post, and Mark Drajem and Hans Nichols report for Bloomberg, Becerra Said to Be Offered Top U.S. Trade Position by Obama.

Drajem and Nichols report:

Becerra, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees trade policy, said in a 2005 interview that he regretted voting for Nafta in 1993, and cited the problems with the accord as a reason he helped lead the opposition to the Central American Free Trade Agreement that year.

He also voted against a free-trade agreement with Oman, using the example of the record U.S. trade deficit with China as a reason to oppose it.

``It's become very obvious that our system for devising trade agreements so very important to this country's functioning around the world, has not only broken, but is broken completely,'' Becerra said on the House floor, according to a statement from his office in July 2006.

The Cato Institute says that he's voted against trade barriers in 65% of the votes they've followed since 1997, but against trade subsidies only 8% of the time.

EdwardsAvenger at the liberal Daily Kos (Breaking: Obama taps Xavier Becerra for U.S. Trade Rep. with poll (Updated)) says:

If Becerra accepts than it should be a hallelujah moment for progressives and advocates of fair trade.

For starters, Becerra is a member of Sen. Bernie Sanders Progressive Caucus, which has long pushed congresses for fairer trade deals....

Becerra did originally support NAFTA, but he has apologized for this and worked to oppose CAFTA, giving Bush fast-track authority for trade agreements, and granting China MFN....

Even if Becerra says no, the fact that Obama offered him the job of U.S. Trade Rep. shows that he is serious about promoting fair trade.