President Obama has formally nominated Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) to be the next U.S. ambassador to China.

Baucus would succeed Ambassador Gary Locke. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is expected to fill the chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee.

President Obama also formally nominated current U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Darci Vetter to succeed Islam Siddiqui as chief U.S. agricultural negotiator at the office of the U.S. Trade Representative.