The Senate confirmed Jamieson Greer as U.S. Trade Representative on Wednesday, positioning the Trump administration veteran to lead contentious negotiations with Canada and Mexico. With a 56-43 vote, lawmakers endorsed Greer’s return to frontline trade battles as Trump prepares sweeping tariffs targeting North American allies.
Greer will immediately confront a March 4 deadline to implement 25% tariffs on Canadian aluminum and Mexican steel imports. These measures directly violate Trump’s own US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) – the $1.4 trillion trade pact Greer helped negotiate during Trump’s first term.
Greer is admirably qualified to protect American interests,said Senate Majority Leader John Thune. We must prioritize agricultural exports and manufacturing growth.
Economists warn the administration’s three-pronged tariff strategy could:
- Trigger inflation spikes in construction and automotive sectors
- Invite retaliatory taxes on $42B in U.S. farm exports
- Undermine pandemic recovery efforts across North America
The confirmed trade representative brings firsthand experience from the 2018-2020 China tariff wars, where he served as Chief of Staff to former USTR Robert Lighthizer. Greer’s reappointment signals Trump’s commitment to hardline tactics despite bipartisan concerns.
This isn’t negotiation – it’s economic brinkmanship,argued Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) during floor debates. Over 90% of Washington state apples exported to Mexico now face potential retaliatory tariffs under the new policy framework.
