President-elect Donald Trump nominated Jamieson Greer to serve as United States trade representative, aiming to further his pledge of imposing tariffs on imports. Greer, who previously worked as chief of staff for former USTR Robert Lighthizer, played a role in Trump’s first-term tariff hikes on Chinese goods. Trump also announced plans to levy tariffs on products from Mexico and Canada. Economists are concerned about potential consumer cost increases as a result of the tariff hikes. China, Mexico, and Canada criticized Trump’s tariff pledges, with a Chinese embassy spokesperson warning against a trade war. Jamieson, a former Air Force lawyer, is currently a partner at a Washington-based law firm specializing in international trade. In addition to Greer, Trump appointed Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council and Vince Haley as director of the Domestic Policy Council. Hassett played a key role in Trump’s 2017 tax cut package, and Haley served in a policy and speechwriting role for Trump’s 2024 campaign. Trump emphasized that Hassett will help families recover from inflation caused by the Biden administration and work towards fair trade agreements. Overall, Trump is prioritizing his economic team appointments to drive his policies on taxes, trade, and economic recovery.
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