Representative Xavier Becerra, a California Democrat who once declared U.S. trade policy was broken completely, has been offered the job of President-elect Barack Obama's top trade official, two Democrats close to the transition office said.

As U.S. Trade Representative, Becerra, 50, would take part in global trade talks, negotiate with China on product-safety issues and possibly renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. The two Democrats didnt say Becerra had accepted the job.

Becerra, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees trade policy, said in a 2005 interview that he regretted voting for Nafta in 1993, and cited the problems with the trade accord as a reason he helped lead the opposition to the Central American Free Trade Agreement that year.

He also voted against a free-trade agreement with Oman, using the example of the record U.S. trade deficit with China as a reason to oppose it.

Its become very obvious that our system for devising trade agreements so very important to this countrys functioning around the world, has not only broken, but is broken completely, Becerra said on the House floor, according to a statement from his office in July 2006.

Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki had no comment. Theres no announcement, Becerras spokeswoman Fabiola Rodriguez said. Congressman Becerra is excited to serve as the vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus in the 111th Congress. Becerra voted for Chinas entry into the World Trade Organization in 2000, a minority position among Democrats even though President Bill Clinton pushed for it.

He was elected vice chairman of the Democratic caucus last month. Becerra is the son of immigrants. He has both an undergraduate and law degree from Stanford University.

He would be the second Hispanic named to a Cabinet-rank post by Obama. Tomorrow New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will be tapped for the post of commerce secretary, a Democratic official said.

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