President-elect Donald Trump has selected Jamieson Greer as his nominee for the next U.S. Trade Representative. Greer is familiar with the role, having previously worked as chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, who served as the trade representative during Trump’s first term. During that period, the administration imposed broad tariffs on China and other countries and played a key role in the negotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Trump has frequently highlighted the passage of the USMCA as one of the major accomplishments of his presidency, calling it a significant political achievement.
In a Tuesday announcement, President-elect Donald Trump praised Jamieson Greer as his pick for U.S. Trade Representative, emphasizing that Greer will focus on reducing the country’s large trade deficit, protecting American manufacturing, agriculture, and services, and expanding export markets globally. Trump highlighted Greer’s key role during his first term in imposing tariffs on China and other nations to address unfair trade practices and replacing NAFTA with the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which he called a significant improvement for American workers.
If confirmed by the Senate, Greer will take on the position as Trump prepares to pursue an aggressive trade agenda. Trump has already promised to impose new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China on the first day of his administration, unless those countries take action to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking. During his campaign, Trump stated he would enforce tariffs of 10% to 20% on all imports and up to 60% on Chinese imports.
Trump has positioned tariffs as a versatile tool to punish unfair trade practices, support U.S. manufacturing, and generate revenue to fund tax cuts from his first term. The potential for tariffs is also a bargaining chip in renegotiating the USMCA.
Greer, who has recently worked as a partner at law firm King & Spalding, where he focused on trade policy and agreement enforcement, explained in an interview that leveling the playing field for American workers helps prevent them from competing unfairly against other countries’ trade and tax policies. Greer’s experience also includes serving in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, with a deployment to Iraq.
