The departure of Trade Representative Zoellick to become Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice's top deputy raises questions as to how quickly Congress might tackle the Central America Free Trade Agreement. Business supporters are pushing for a final vote on the pact in both chambers by May, seeking to avoid having it slip too far down the calendar as Congress deals with two other trade votes with June delivery dates. The quick selection of a Zoellick successor who receives strong endorsement from lawmakers will be a factor in Congress' ability to consider the trade deal in the first half of this year, congressional and business sources said. Some business lobbyists are urging the White House to pick a replacement with an extensive knowledge of trade policy and a working relationship with Capitol Hill. Commerce Undersecretary Grant Aldonas, USTR Special Agriculture Negotiator Al Johnson and Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., would fit the bill.

President Bush announced his House Ways and Means Chairman Thomas and Senate Finance Chairman Grassley both favor moving quickly on CAFTA, which is widely expected to be the most contentious trade vote in years. Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez this week signed legislation repealing a tax on high fructose corn syrup that had led the Bush administration to threaten that the Dominican Republic would be left out of the pact. Earlier this month, El Salvador became the first country to ratify the agreement, which also includes Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

"[CAFTA] will be the toughest trade vote of the year, and we want it to be the first trade vote of the year," said Franklin Vargo, vice president for international economics for the National Association of Manufacturers. Vargo said he did not see Zoellick's departure as jeopardizing the chances for an early vote. "His job was to get the thing negotiated, and he's done that," Vargo said. Zoellick's departure means that several of the top trade jobs in the Bush administration are likely to be vacant soon, which means the Senate Finance Committee could have to spend considerable time and energy early in the session on confirmations, sources said. Aldonas is expected to leave his post whether or not he gets the nod to succeed Zoellick, and Assistant Commerce Secretary for Import Administration James Jochum also is leaving. A spokeswoman said Jochum's last day is today, and he is headed to the law firm Mayer, Brown, Rowe and Maw.

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