WASHINGTON — The Senate on Monday confirmed billionaire investor Wilbur Ross as commerce secretary as President Trump adds to his economic team.
The vote was 72-27.
Breaking with Republican orthodoxy, Ross said the Trump administration will work quickly to re-do the North American Free Trade Agreement. That’s the massive trade pact with Canada and Mexico that has boosted trade but still stings laid-off workers across the Midwest.
Senators from both political parties were deferential to Ross at his nearly four-hour confirmation hearing, which was much more subdued than the confirmation hearings of other Trump nominees. Former commerce secretaries have praised him, including one who served under former President Obama.
“Mr. Ross will bring decades of business, entrepreneurial and civic experience to this important position,” said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., chairman of the Commerce Committee.
But Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts criticized Ross’ business ties to Russia and the way he ran a mortgage lender during the housing crisis.
“Mr. Ross has extensive ties to Russia. He plans to keep making money from his major oil shipping companies while working as Commerce secretary. He’s made billions off the backs of struggling homeowners,” Warren said Monday. “He is practically a cartoon stereotype of a Wall Street fat cat.”
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