In West Palm Beach, Florida, President-elect Donald Trump unveiled a series of key nominations on Tuesday, selecting international trade attorney Jamieson Greer as his U.S. trade representative, economist Kevin Hassett to lead the White House National Economic Council, and Vince Haley as head of the Domestic Policy Council.
Trump praised Greer’s nomination, highlighting his pivotal role during the previous administration in implementing tariffs against countries such as China and revamping the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. He asserted that Greer’s efforts significantly benefited American workers.
Previously, Greer held the position of chief of staff for Robert Lighthizer, Trump’s former trade representative, who harbored a cautious perspective towards free trade agreements. Currently, Greer is a partner at the respected King & Spalding law firm located in Washington D.C., though he was unavailable for immediate comment following the announcement.
Pending confirmation, Greer will be tasked with negotiating trade agreements and addressing disputes with foreign governments, as well as overseeing the U.S.’s participation in international trade organizations like the World Trade Organization.
Kevin Hassett has been appointed as the director of the White House National Economic Council, marking his return to the Trump administration as a staunch advocate for tax reduction policies. In his announcement, Trump remarked that Hassett would be crucial in aiding American families to recover from inflation linked to policies enacted by the Biden administration. Furthermore, they plan to “renew and improve” the tax cuts established in 2017, many of which are scheduled to lapse after 2025.
At 62 years old, Hassett previously served as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers during Trump’s first term. He holds a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and has experience working with the conservative think tank, the American Enterprise Institute, before joining Trump’s administration in 2017.