Trump picks Lighthizer acolyte to be his trade chief

If confirmed by the Senate, Greer, 44, will be on the front line of Trump’s threat to impose a baseline tariff of up to 20 percent on all $3 trillion worth of U.S. exports and a separate 60 percent tariff on Chinese goods. “We are confident that Jamieson understands how Mexico, Vietnam, and the EU are exploiting America’s open economy for their advantage while not buying American made products in return.” Sen. Ron Wyden, the outgoing chair of the Senate Finance Committee because of Democratic losses in the election, used the nomination to criticize Trump’s threat to impose across-the boards, which economists have warned could reignite inflation. “I’m looking forward to learning how Mr. Greer plans to carry out Trump’s scheme to hike consumer prices, and how American workers and businesses will be impacted when prices go through the roof for the materials they use to manufacture Made-in-the-USA goods.” Greer, who was considered a front runner for USTR, also will oversee a potential renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement that was one of Trump’s major trade achievements during his first term, but which has failed to reduce the trade deficit with those countries. He dismissed the Biden administration’s approach to China as “hot rhetoric the place of meaningful action” and told lawmakers he did “not subscribe to the myth that more trade reduces the likelihood of conflict.” He recommended Congress consider a number of tough actions, including revoking permanent normal trade relations with China — a move that would violate U.S. commitments under the WTO by denying China the most favorable U.S. tariff rates. The cost of Trump’s tariffs on China “generally were not passed on to consumers and economic indicators such as unemployment, inflation and per capita GDP thrived during the height of the ‘trade war,’” Greer testified.