Senate confirms top Trump trade negotiator
The Senate voted to confirm a trade attorney and first-term Trump official for the position of America’s top trade negotiator as the Trump administration looks set to reconsider long-standing relationships with many traditional U.S. trading partners.
The Senate voted on Wednesday by a margin of 56 to 43 to confirm Jamieson Greer as the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The vote was largely along party lines, with Republicans generally voting for Greer and Democrats voting against him. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) was among the Democrats who voted in favor of Greer.
Greer, a former lawyer for the Air Force who worked as chief of staff to Trump’s first Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, will work alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to manage Trump’s trade policy, which has already flustered allies and led to massive pile ups of shipments at U.S. ports of entry.
Republicans have spoken highly of Greer, including Senate Finance Committee member Chuck Grassley (Iowa), a self-described free-trader who expressed interest in gaining new market access, a traditional interest of the free trade agenda.
“I am confident that Mr. Greer will pursue an aggressive trade strategy that includes opening access to new markets through new trade deals. I also believe that Mr. Greer will work to level the playing field for U.S. farmers to compete with Brazil fairly, and deal with China head-on,” he said in a Tuesday statement.
Meanwhile, Democrats blasted the confirmation, calling Greer a rubber stamp for Trump.
“Mr. Greer will be a rubber stamp for the Trump Tax, the knee-jerk decision to slap tariffs on nearly everything Americans buy and make high prices even higher,” Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.), ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said in a Wednesday statement.
“Greer has embraced Trump’s chaos strategy, which is a slap in the face to farmers, manufacturers and communities across the country.”
Trump’s trade agenda has begun in fits and starts, with the president pledging large-scale across-the-board tariffs on certain countries and then pulling them at the last minute.
Trump said he would impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico on his first day in office, then pushed the deadline back to February, then again to March after various calls and discussions with leaders of the two countries. Trump said Monday that tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico are still “on time and on schedule” as the countries increase border security ahead of a March 4 deadline.
A 10-percent tariff on China was imposed on February 1. China blasted the tariff and retaliated by imposing a 15-percent additional tariff on U.S. coal, lignite, liquified natural gas, coke and anthracite. China also imposed a 10-percent tariff on U.S. tractors and farm machinery, semi-trailers and crude oil.
Trump’s temporary cancellation of a tariff exemption known as the “de minimis” rule that allows shipment worth less than $800 to enter the U.S. without being taxed or inspected led to a backlog of a million packages at JFK airport. Trump canceled the rule change a few days later after meeting with a FedEx direct.
Experts estimate that an additional 22,000 customers officers would be needed to inspect packages at the border if the de minimis rule is canceled on a permanent basis.
Topics
-
Senate confirms Vance adviser as Army secretary
The Senate on Tuesday voted to confirm Daniel Driscoll, an Army 1st lieutenant-turned-businessman, as President Trump's Army secretary. He most recently served as a senior adviser to Vice President ...The Hill - 1d -
Top GOP negotiator warns stopgap becoming more likely to avert shutdown
House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said Monday that negotiators are still trading offers as both sides seek a compromise to keep the government funded into autumn — but he cautioned a ...The Hill - 2d -
Van Hollen says Trump's approach to Ukraine and Russia is "terrible negotiating"
Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland faulted President Trump for undermining Ukraine in any eventual peace talks with Russia, saying that taking several Ukrainian demands off the table is ...CBS News - 3d -
Government funding deal ‘very close’ as negotiations hinge on Trump power struggle
Politico - 1d -
Trump's pick for FBI director confirmed in 51-49 vote
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Kash Patel's to lead the FBI under President Donald Trump.ABC News - 6d -
Trump stuns Senate GOP with House budget endorsement
“Did not see that one coming,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said.Politico - Feb. 19 -
Trump asserts dominance as GOP senators come to heel
President Trump has proven to be a dominant force in politics and other aspects of American life in his first month back in the White House, showcasing how much his influence has grown since he ...The Hill - 4d -
McConnell becomes maverick for Trump, GOP Senate
Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) decision to conclude his storied political career marks the end of an era for Senate Republicans, especially as the longtime GOP leader increasingly signals he’s a ...The Hill - 4d -
Trump: GOP senator had 'close call' with fall
President Trump weighed in on the recent head injury sustained by Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) after he slipped and fell on ice during a trip home, wishing him a speedy recovery but noting the ...The Hill - 9h
More from The Hill
-
Evening Report —Trump, Musk defend DOGE as federal workforce braces for more cuts
{beacon} Evening Report TRUMP FIRST 100 DAYS © Andrew Harnik, Getty Images Trump, Musk defend DOGE as federal workforce braces for more cuts PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ELON MUSK united to defend the work ...The Hill - 15m -
HuffPost blasts White House for reportedly pulling press pool spot
HuffPost slammed the White House for reportedly pulling a press pool spot amid turmoil surrounding new policy on how the presidential press pool operates. The outlet reported Tuesday night that one ...The Hill - 17m -
Trump solicitor general nominee: Ignoring courts conceivable in 'extreme cases'
President Trump’s nominee for solicitor general said in his confirmation hearing Wednesday that there are “extreme cases” where it is conceivable that an elected official could defy a court order. ...The Hill - 22m -
Time is enemy for lawmakers pushing PBM changes
Time is slipping away from lawmakers who hope to resurrect a slate of changes to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry. PBMs dodged a bullet when those changes — which included transparency ...The Hill - 26m -
Trump issues executive order reinforcing hospital price transparency rule from first term
President Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order designed to reinforce an older executive order issued during his first term that requires hospital to publish their prices online, a rule that ...The Hill - 29m
More in Politics
-
Evening Report —Trump, Musk defend DOGE as federal workforce braces for more cuts
{beacon} Evening Report TRUMP FIRST 100 DAYS © Andrew Harnik, Getty Images Trump, Musk defend DOGE as federal workforce braces for more cuts PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ELON MUSK united to defend the work ...The Hill - 15m -
HuffPost blasts White House for reportedly pulling press pool spot
HuffPost slammed the White House for reportedly pulling a press pool spot amid turmoil surrounding new policy on how the presidential press pool operates. The outlet reported Tuesday night that one ...The Hill - 17m -
Trump solicitor general nominee: Ignoring courts conceivable in 'extreme cases'
President Trump’s nominee for solicitor general said in his confirmation hearing Wednesday that there are “extreme cases” where it is conceivable that an elected official could defy a court order. ...The Hill - 22m -
Time is enemy for lawmakers pushing PBM changes
Time is slipping away from lawmakers who hope to resurrect a slate of changes to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry. PBMs dodged a bullet when those changes — which included transparency ...The Hill - 26m -
Trump issues executive order reinforcing hospital price transparency rule from first term
President Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order designed to reinforce an older executive order issued during his first term that requires hospital to publish their prices online, a rule that ...The Hill - 29m