President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced former Reagan administration official Robert Lighthizer as his choice to be the next U.S. trade representative.
Mr. Lighthizer, who was deputy U.S. trade representative under President Reagan, said it is a “high honor” to serve in the post. The forthcoming nomination has to be approved by the Senate.
“I am fully committed to President-elect Trump’s mission to level the playing field for American workers and forge better trade policies which will benefit all Americans,” he said.
Mr. Lighthizer also worked on Capitol Hill as chief of staff for the Senate Finance Committee, and has worked on international trade law in the private sector.
“He has extensive experience striking agreements that protect some of the most important sectors of our economy, and has repeatedly fought in the private sector to prevent bad deals from hurting Americans,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump has campaigned strongly against international trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and so the position could take on a particular significance for his administration.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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