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Robert Lighthizer, who was U.S. commerce consultant when Donald Trump launched his commerce battle with China, has been requested to retake the put up because the president-elect begins constructing his Cabinet crew.
Several folks conversant in discussions inside Trump’s transition crew stated so Lighthizer he had been requested to return to the function although he was lobbying for a unique place, together with that of commerce secretary.
Lighthizer had additionally expressed curiosity in serving as Treasury secretary, however that place will almost certainly be supplied to a financier, with contenders together with hedge fund managers Scott Bessent and John Paulson.
The risk of an arch-protectionist being reappointed to the important thing commerce function will seemingly elevate considerations in Beijing, in addition to amongst U.S. commerce allies, given Lighthizer’s affect throughout Trump’s commerce wars throughout his first time period. Trump has promised to impose excessive tariffs on all imports into the United States, particularly Chinese items.
Trump had been contemplating Lighthizer for commerce secretary, however folks conversant in the personnel discussions stated the president-elect would almost certainly provide that job to Linda McMahon, the billionaire co-chair of Trump’s presidential transition crew.
Brendan Boyle, a Philadelphia congressman who’s the highest Democrat on the influential House Budget Committee and a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee that oversees commerce, stated he would welcome Lighthizer’s nomination.
“When Bob Lighthizer was USTR I labored with him on the (U.S.-Mexico-Canada) settlement,” Boyle stated. “He was bipartisan in his method and is effectively revered on each side of the (political) aisle.”
It is unclear whether or not Lighthizer will settle for the place. He didn’t reply to requests for remark. A spokesperson for Trump additionally didn’t instantly reply.
Robert O’Brien, who served as nationwide safety adviser in the course of the first Trump administration and was thought-about a contender to return to that function or turn into secretary of state, informed his non-public sector consulting shoppers this week that he wouldn’t joined the administration, an individual conversant in the choice stated.
Lighthizer was effectively appreciated by Trump and was one of many few high-level officers to not undergo his wrath throughout Trump’s first time period.
As commerce czar, Trump has presided over a turbulent period for international commerce, because the administration has repeatedly hit its largest buying and selling companions — together with its allies — with excessive levies and tariffs on billions of {dollars}’ value of imports.
A former U.S. metal trade lawyer, he has usually clashed with the Geneva-based World Trade Organization, which oversees worldwide commerce disputes, calling it a “mess” that “has let America down.”
His appointment would additionally spell bother for Nippon Steel, the Japanese firm that has proposed a $15 billion takeover of US Steel. Trump has signaled his opposition to the deal, however Lighthizer would virtually actually help blocking the acquisition.
Lighthizer spent three many years as an legal professional on the Wall Street regulation agency Skadden Arps, the place he fought imports from China on behalf of the U.S. metal trade, together with U.S. Steel. In the early 2000s, he helped persuade the George W. Bush administration to impose tariffs on metal imports to guard the U.S. trade.
During his earlier tenure as commerce consultant, Washington moved away from commerce offers pushed by business pursuits and as a substitute centered on measures designed to relocate manufacturing and defend American employees. Despite this, Lighthizer agreed to restricted commerce agreements with China and Japan and up to date the US settlement with Mexico and Canada.
Writing within the Financial Times shortly earlier than the US election, Lighthizer blamed free commerce for the lack of American manufacturing jobs and known as the US commerce deficit “alarming”. “Faced with a system that’s severely failing our nation, Trump has determined that motion have to be taken,” he wrote.
