The Senate Finance Committee has approved Jamieson Greer, appointed by President Donald Trump, to become the United States' chief trade negotiator. This decision, which largely followed party lines, saw the committee clearing Greer with a 15-12 vote. Among the Democrats, only Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island sided with the Republicans, providing the lone cross-party support.
Greer's confirmation comes amidst a turbulent backdrop of international trade tensions, with President Trump implementing aggressive tariff policies. These include a 25% levy on Chinese imports and an impending similar duty on foreign steel and aluminum expected to take effect soon. The nomination now heads to the full Senate, which will further determine Greer’s future role.
If appointed, Greer, an attorney with an extensive background as a trade official during Trump’s first term, will guide the President’s trade strategies. His responsibilities will align with those of Howard Lutnick, Trump's nominee for Commerce Secretary, as they navigate the complexities of the ongoing trade conflicts.
Economists have raised red flags regarding the potential repercussions of Trump’s tariff hikes, suggesting possible price increases and inflation risks. Moreover, the prospect of retaliatory trade measures from other nations looms, posing additional challenges to the administration's approach. Despite these concerns, Trump argues that such tariffs will generate revenue, provide a safety net for U.S. industries, and wield leverage over countries for broader concessions beyond trade agreements.
Greer's track record includes serving as chief of staff to Trump's former trade representative Robert Lighthizer. He was actively involved in trade discussions with China during tense times when the two economic giants imposed heavy tariffs on each other's exports, marking one of the most significant trade conflicts since the Great Depression.
His contributions also encompass the negotiation of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a reimagined trade pact aimed at enhancing North American trade relations. Greer's efforts to collaborate with Democrats facilitated bipartisan support for the USMCA in Congress.
Nevertheless, a majority of the finance committee's Democrats have voiced their reservations, citing Trump’s aggressive and erratic trade strategies as problematic. President Trump had previously considered enacting sweeping tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods, worth billions in annual trade, as leverage for commitments on immigration control. However, at the last moment, the President postponed these tariffs following incremental agreements from Mexico and Canada to address his concerns.
Committee’s leading Democrat, Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon, has criticized the ongoing trade policies, deeming them chaotic and ‘swampy.’ He further accuses Greer of being likely to support Trump’s contentious trade agenda uncritically. As Greer's nomination proceeds to the Senate floor, the debate over America's direction in international trade continues to intensify.
