The Senate Finance Committee plans to vote on Wednesday on the nomination of former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk to be US trade representative.
Committee approval will set the stage for a full Senate vote on his nomination.
Mr Kirk told the Finance Committee on Monday he would place a large emphasis on enforcing existing trade agreements, but did not have a "fever" to negotiate new deals.
He is expected to win Senate approval despite mistakes in his tax returns that will require him to pay about $US10,000 in back taxes.
