Robert Lighthizer, a lawyer with a long background in trade issues, will lead the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced he will nominate Robert Lighthizer as U.S. Trade Representative.
Lighthizer served as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative under President Ronald Reagan, and before that, he served as chief of staff on the Senate Finance Committee. He is a partner at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he specializes in international trade. As a hardliner on trade enforcement, he has represented manufacturers seeking safeguards against imports that are dumped at unfair prices or subsidized by foreign governments.
The Trump Transition Office said Lighthizer will work closely with Secretary of Commerce-designate Wilbur Ross and Peter Navarro, head of the newly created White House National Trade Council, to develop and implement pro-growth policies that expand the manufacturing base and stop outsourcing.
“Ambassador Lighthizer is going to do an outstanding job representing the United States as we fight for good trade deals that put the American worker first,” Trump said. “He has extensive experience striking agreements that protect some of the most important sectors of our economy, and has repeatedly fought in the private sector to prevent bad deals from hurting Americans. He will do an amazing job helping turn around the failed trade policies which have robbed so many Americans of prosperity.”
Lighthizer’s nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.
Trump names Lighthizer as USTR nominee
