In a strategic move, President-elect Donald Trump has announced Jamieson Greer as his choice for the US trade representative role, highlighting a return to familiar strategies from his previous administration.
Jamieson Greer, who once served as chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, the US trade representative during Trump’s prior term, has been earmarked for a pivotal trade role. His past experience includes imposing tariffs on China and other nations, and being a part of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This agreement is often cited by Trump as a significant achievement that replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), enhancing provisions for American workers.
Greer is set to direct the Office of the US Trade Representative with a focus on major trade concerns such as the US’s considerable trade deficit. His priorities will include bolstering American manufacturing and agriculture while expanding markets for exports globally. Trump commended Greer’s previous contributions to his administration’s trade policies, emphasizing his role in combating what were termed as unfair trade practices through strategic tariffs.
Should Greer receive Senate confirmation, he will immediately engage with Trump’s ambitious trade objectives, which feature prominently in his upcoming agenda. Promising to institute new tariffs against Mexico, Canada, and China, Trump insists these measures will persist until these countries curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking over their borders.
Trump has been vocal on the campaign trail, advocating for tariffs ranging from 10% to 20% on all imports, with an even steeper 60% tariff on Chinese goods. He considers tariffs as versatile tools for penalizing countries that engage in unfair trade activities, revitalizing US manufacturing, and generating billions to finance tax cuts enacted during his first term.
Furthermore, Greer has publicly stated the necessity of a fair competitive environment, asserting, “if you level out that playing field, it makes it so that Americans don’t have to compete unfairly.” His professional journey includes work as a partner at the international trade team with King & Spalding, where he has tackled trade policy and agreement enforcement cases.
Earlier in his career, Greer focused on trade issues within private practice, and has served in the US Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, including a deployment to Iraq, adding depth to his extensive experience in international trade.
As Donald Trump prepares to reintroduce assertive trade measures, Jamieson Greer emerges as a key figure in shaping US trade policy, poised to implement strategies that could redefine global economic interactions.
Source: CNN
