President-elect Donald Trump has chosen trade lawyer Jamieson Greer as his new U.S. trade representative, a move that promises to upend global trade. Greer, 44, served as chief of staff to Trump’s former U.S. trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, and was a key player in the negotiation of the North American free trade deal with Canada and Mexico.
As the new U.S. trade representative, Greer will focus on reining in the country’s massive trade deficit, defending American manufacturing, agriculture, and services, and opening up export markets. He will also work to implement a sweeping tariff agenda, which has raised concerns about retaliation and potential economic harm.
Greer’s views on China are in line with Trump’s and Lighthizer’s, and he has argued in favor of increased tariff usage and stronger export controls to level the trade playing field between the U.S. and China. He has also praised the administration’s efforts to impose tariffs on Chinese imports, but believes that stronger action is needed to counter China’s state-driven efforts to dominate global industries and protect U.S. jobs and industries.
In related news, Trump has also threatened to impose duties of 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada and 10% on Chinese goods unless they take action to halt the flow of the deadly opioid fentanyl and illegal migrants into the U.S. The threat has drawn warnings of retaliation from both countries.