Senate to hold hearing on Lighthizer USTR nomination

Robert Lighthizer will testify before the Senate Finance Committee next week regarding his nomination to become the latest U.S. Trade Representative.    The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing next Tuesday to consider the nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
   Lighthizer’s nomination has been held up, primarily by Democrats, after it was disclosed that he once served as a lobbyist for Brazil in a U.S. trade dispute. U.S. law prohibits people who have represented a foreign government from becoming the trade representative.
   Lawmakers are working behind the scenes to craft some kind of legislative exemption for Lighthizer, similar to how Congress in January passed a law exempting Secretary of Defense James Mattis from the requirement that members of the military be out of uniform for seven years before taking a top Defense Department job.
   “In order for Congress to have a strong say in the Trump administration’s trade policy agenda, we need to confirm the USTR as soon as possible,” Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said in a statement. “After unprecedented delays and unrealistic and unrelated demands that have hindered the advancement of Mr. Lighthizer’s nomination, it is past time to allow the Committee to examine the nominee’s qualifications to lead USTR. I look forward to hosting Mr. Lighthizer and hearing his views on trade policy, specifically, how he plans to protect American intellectual property rights abroad and ensure U.S. global competitiveness in the 21st century.”
   The Senate must vote to confirm Lighthizer before he can take office.