WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee voted to approve President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. trade representative, Jamieson Greer, by a narrow 15-12 margin, with the decision largely reflecting party lines.
Greer, a lawyer with experience from Trump’s first term, received support from all Republican members of the committee, while only one Democrat, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island, also backed his nomination. The next step for Greer’s nomination is a vote by the full Senate, where he is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the trade policies of the Trump administration alongside the nominee for the Commerce Department, financier Howard Lutnick.
This approval comes amid ongoing tensions in international trade, as Trump has been engaged in a trade conflict with multiple countries. The President has already imposed a 25% tariff on imports from China, with an additional 25% duty on foreign steel and aluminum set to commence on March 12. Furthermore, Trump is contemplating adjustments to U.S. tariffs, aiming to align them with those imposed by other nations on American exports.
Economic experts are sounding alarms about the potential consequences of these tariffs, warning that they are likely to increase consumer prices and could reignite inflation. Additionally, there are concerns about retaliatory measures from other countries in response to these trade policies. Trump, however, argues that these tariffs are essential for generating revenue, safeguarding U.S. industries, and compelling other nations to negotiate on various trade-related matters.
Greer has a background as a former Air Force attorney and served as the chief of staff for Trump’s inaugural trade representative, Robert Lighthizer. During this period, Greer was actively involved in negotiating with China amidst escalating tariffs that marked a significant trade confrontation between the two largest economies since the 1930s. He also played a crucial role in negotiating the updated North American trade agreement, known as the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and collaborated with Democrats to facilitate its passage in Congress.
Despite Greer’s qualifications, many Democrats on the committee expressed skepticism about Trump’s aggressive and unpredictable trade strategies, ultimately choosing to oppose Greer’s nomination. Notably, there was a moment on February 4 when Trump was poised to impose extensive tariffs on Mexico and Canada, which risked disrupting hundreds of billions in annual trade between the nations. However, he opted to delay those tariffs at the last moment, following minimal agreements from both countries to enhance efforts against undocumented immigration and illegal drugs crossing the U.S. border.
Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon, the leading Democrat on the Finance Committee, characterized Trump’s approach to trade as a “swampy mess” and indicated that Greer would merely act as a “rubber stamp” for what he termed Trump’s trade chaos.
