US president-elect taps Jamieson Greer and Kevin Hassett as trade representative and top economic adviser, respectively.
United States President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Jamieson Greer and Kevin Hassett, two experienced members of his previous administration, to serve as his trade representative and top economic adviser.
During Trump’s first term, Greer played a crucial role in managing the trade conflict with China while working as chief of staff to former US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
“Jamieson will focus the Office of the US Trade Representative on addressing the country’s significant trade deficit, protecting American manufacturing, agriculture, and services, and expanding export opportunities globally,” Trump stated on Tuesday.
If confirmed by the US Senate, Greer, who left government to join the law firm King & Spalding, will lead negotiations on trade with other countries and international organizations like the World Trade Organization.
In an interview with The New York Times in June, Greer emphasized that tariffs were seen by Trump officials as a means of correcting unfair trade practices by China and other nations.
Trump announced that Hassett, a proponent of tax cuts, would assist American families in recovering from inflation caused by the Biden administration as director of the White House National Economic Council.
Hassett, the former chair of Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers, does not need Senate confirmation.
“Together, we will enhance our existing tax cuts and ensure fair trade with countries that have taken advantage of the US in the past,” Trump affirmed.
Trump’s recent appointments for his upcoming administration follow his pledge to impose a 25 percent tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese products in response to irregular border crossings and drug trafficking.
Economists generally agree that widespread tariffs would increase the cost of goods in the US and slow global economic growth.
Supporters of Trump argue that tariffs will bring back manufacturing jobs from overseas and provide Washington with greater bargaining power to secure more favorable trade agreements with other nations.
