Lighthizer confirmed as USTR chief

The U.S. Senate on Thursday voted 82-14 to confirm Robert Lighthizer as the White House’s head of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.    The U.S. Senate on Thursday voted 82-14 to confirm Robert Lighthizer as the White House’s head of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
   Lighthizer, 69, once served as a deputy trade representative under President Reagan and has had a long career representing U.S. steel companies pursuing remedies for trade violations by foreign competitors.
   His nomination, while supported by both Republicans and Democrats, was initially held up because he once represented the government of Brazil in a private trade dispute with U.S. companies, as previously reported by American Shipper’s Adam Smith Project.
    Now that Lighthizer is on board, he is expected to immediately turn his attention to discussions related to renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, as well as continue to work on trade differences with China.
   A number of industry associations applauded Lighthizer’s confirmation and look forward to him getting started on pressing trade matters.
   “We congratulate Ambassador Lighthizer on his confirmation,” said the Sweetener Users Association. “America’s food and beverage industry manufacturers – companies large and small from coast to coast – are affected by U.S. trade agreements and trade-related policies, chief among them U.S. sugar policy.
   “Though Congress has the ultimate responsibility for reforming U.S. sugar policy to better serve American consumers and all stakeholders in the supply chain, we look forward to working closely with USTR to target and eliminate unfair policies and subsidies that limit the competitiveness of American manufacturers working hard to compete in the global economy,” the trade group said.
   “Red meat exports continue to face import barriers in dozens of markets around the world. One of the keys to ensuring continued growth of beef, pork and lamb exports will be dismantling these barriers so our industry is able to compete on a level playing field,” said Philip Seng, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), in a statement.
   “USMEF looks forward to continuing its strong partnership with USTR under Ambassador Lighthizer’s leadership, as we work together to open these markets,” he added.
   The American Soybean Association (ASA) said it was important for the Trump administration and Congress to pick someone like Lighthizer as USTR chief, since he understands the impacts and importance of trade to U.S. industry and the nation’s economy.
   “As we urge prudence on any trade negotiations or renegotiations, Lighthizer’s confirmation will allow the U.S. to engage on trade negations that will benefit all Americans though economic growth and job creation,” said ASA President Ron Moore.