Obama taps new US Trade Representative

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated Michael Froman, a top economic adviser, as the next US Trade Representative, putting him in charge of a more ambitious trade agenda in Obama's second term.

The Obama administration has put forward a plan to complete negotiations on Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by the end of this year and wrap up a US-EU free trade agreement in two years, to cement his legacy in international trade.

If confirmed by the Senate, Froman would succeed Ron Kirk, Obama's main international trade negotiator in the past four years who stepped down from the cabinet in March.

Froman currently serves as Obama's deputy national security adviser for international economics. He is responsible for coordinating policy on international trade, investment, energy, climate and development issues.