Senate panel approves Portman as trade rep

WASHINGTON, April 26 (UPI) -- The Senate Finance Committee Tuesday approved the nomination of Rep. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, to be U.S. Trade Representative.

Portman would succeed Robert Zoellick, who was appointed by President George W. Bush as deputy secretary of state.

But it remains unclear when the full Senate will vote on the nominee since Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., has threatened to block the confirmation until the Senate holds a vote on legislation he co-sponsored with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

That measure, the "Stop Overseas Subsidies Act," would make it easier for U.S. manufacturers to seek antidumping duties against Chinese and Vietnamese imports.