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===U.S. Trade Representative===
===U.S. Trade Representative===
[[File:Robert Lighthizer, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as United States Trade Representative meets with U.S. Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) in January 2017.jpg|thumb|Robert Lighthizer meets with former Chairman of the [[Senate Finance Committee]] (and current [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Judiciary Committee]] Chairman) [[Chuck Grassley]] (R-[[Iowa]]) in January 2017]]
[[File:Robert Lighthizer, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as United States Trade Representative meets with U.S. Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) in January 2017.jpg|thumb|Robert Lighthizer meets with former Chairman of the [[Senate Finance Committee]] (and current [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Judiciary Committee]] Chairman) [[Chuck Grassley]] (R-[[Iowa]]) in January 2017]]
On January 2, 2017, [[Donald Trump]] announced that he planned to nominate Lighthizer as [[Office of the United States Trade Representative|U.S. Trade Representative]], a [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet]]-level position.<ref name=trumptaps/> Due to Lighthizer's prior representation of foreign governments with a trade dispute with the United States,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/President-Nominates-Intellectual-Property-Advocate-as-Trade-Rep-117037.asp|title=NewsBreaks: President Nominates Intellectual Property Advocate as Trade Rep|access-date=2017-03-21}}</ref> he needed to obtain a special waiver to bypass the [[Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995|Lobbying Disclosure Act]]. The waiver had to pass through [[United States Congress|Congress]] and receive the president's signature. Congress waived the ban for [[Charlene Barshefsky]], [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton's]] choice for Trade Representative in 1997.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-02-15/trump-s-trade-pick-needs-waiver-over-work-for-china-and-brazil|title=Trump Trade Nominee Lighthizer Needs Waiver Over Work for China and Brazil|date=2017-02-15|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2017-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/03/morning-trade-lighthizer-ally-named-general-counsel-acting-ustr-trumps-trade-learning-curve-eu-ministers-want-face-time-with-trumps-trade-envoy-000334|title=Morning Trade: Lighthizer ally named general counsel, acting USTR|work=The Agenda|access-date=2017-03-12}}</ref>
On January 2, 2017, [[Donald Trump]] announced that he planned to nominate Lighthizer as [[Office of the United States Trade Representative|U.S. Trade Representative]], a [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet]]-level position.<ref name=trumptaps/> Due to Lighthizer's prior representation of foreign governments with a trade dispute with the United States,<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Woody Evans|Evans, Woody]]|url=http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/President-Nominates-Intellectual-Property-Advocate-as-Trade-Rep-117037.asp|title=NewsBreaks: President Nominates Intellectual Property Advocate as Trade Rep|access-date=2017-03-21}}</ref> he needed to obtain a special waiver to bypass the [[Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995|Lobbying Disclosure Act]]. The waiver had to pass through [[United States Congress|Congress]] and receive the president's signature. Congress waived the ban for [[Charlene Barshefsky]], [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton's]] choice for Trade Representative in 1997.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-02-15/trump-s-trade-pick-needs-waiver-over-work-for-china-and-brazil|title=Trump Trade Nominee Lighthizer Needs Waiver Over Work for China and Brazil|date=2017-02-15|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2017-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/03/morning-trade-lighthizer-ally-named-general-counsel-acting-ustr-trumps-trade-learning-curve-eu-ministers-want-face-time-with-trumps-trade-envoy-000334|title=Morning Trade: Lighthizer ally named general counsel, acting USTR|work=The Agenda|access-date=2017-03-12}}</ref>


Lighthizer was confirmed as U.S. Trade Representative on May 11, 2017, by a margin of 82–14.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mayeda|first1=Andrew|title=Lighthizer Approval as Trade Rep Paves Way for Nafta Talks|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-05-11/lighthizer-approval-as-u-s-trade-chief-clears-way-for-nafta-redo|accessdate=11 May 2017|publisher=Bloomberg Politics|date=May 11, 2017}}</ref> He was sworn in by Vice President [[Mike Pence]] on May 15, 2017.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/business/robert-lighthizer-sworn-in-as-us-trade-representative/2017/05/15/6cd83abe-39a9-11e7-a59b-26e0451a96fd_story.html Robert Lighthizer sworn in as US Trade Representative]. [[Washington Post]], May 15, 2017</ref>
Lighthizer was confirmed as U.S. Trade Representative on May 11, 2017, by a margin of 82–14.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mayeda|first1=Andrew|title=Lighthizer Approval as Trade Rep Paves Way for Nafta Talks|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-05-11/lighthizer-approval-as-u-s-trade-chief-clears-way-for-nafta-redo|accessdate=11 May 2017|publisher=Bloomberg Politics|date=May 11, 2017}}</ref> He was sworn in by Vice President [[Mike Pence]] on May 15, 2017.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/business/robert-lighthizer-sworn-in-as-us-trade-representative/2017/05/15/6cd83abe-39a9-11e7-a59b-26e0451a96fd_story.html Robert Lighthizer sworn in as US Trade Representative]. [[Washington Post]], May 15, 2017</ref>

Revision as of 17:32, 21 July 2017

Robert Lighthizer
18th United States Trade Representative
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 15, 2017
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byMichael Froman
Personal details
Born
Robert Emmet Lighthizer

(1947-10-11) October 11, 1947 (age 77)
Ashtabula, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationGeorgetown University (BA, JD)
Websitewww.ustr.gov

Robert Emmet "Bob" Lighthizer (born October 11, 1947)[1] is an American lawyer and the current United States Trade Representative.[2] After receiving both his undergraduate and law degrees from Georgetown University, Lighthizer joined the law firm of Covington & Burling. He later served as chief minority counsel and chief counsel and staff director for the United States Senate Committee on Finance. In 1983, during the Reagan administration, he became deputy trade representative. Lighthizer was a partner with the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

On January 2, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that he planned to nominate Lighthizer as U.S. Trade Representative, a cabinet-level position. Four months later, on May 11, 2017, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 82–14 vote.[3] His confirmation jumpstarted President Trump's NAFTA renegotiation process.[4][5]

Early life and education

Lighthizer was born in Ashtabula, Ohio.[6] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1969 and a Juris Doctor in 1973 from Georgetown University.[6]

Career

From 1973 to 1978, before working in government, Lighthizer worked for the Washington, D.C. law firm of Covington & Burling.[6][1]

From 1978 to 1981, he was chief minority counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Finance.[1]

In 1981, Lighthizer became the chief counsel and staff director for the United States Senate Committee on Finance.[1] In the 1980s, he hired Patrick Ewing as an intern.[7]

In 1983, during the administration of President Ronald Reagan, he became deputy trade representative.[1][8] He negotiated two dozen bilateral international agreements on subjects ranging from steel to grain.[8]

In 1985, Lighthizer negotiated on behalf of Brazil in a trade dispute with the United States over ethanol.[9] Between 1985 and 1990, Lighthizer represented five foreign clients.[9] According to filings with the United States International Trade Commission, Lighthizer represented an enterprise controlled by the government of China in a trade dispute with the United States in 1991.[10]

Lighthizer is a partner with the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he works to gain access to foreign markets on behalf of U.S. corporations.[11]

He has been a long time supporter of the U.S. steel industry.[12] He convinced Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and the United Kingdom to accept “voluntary restraint agreements” to limit the amount of cheap steel they could dump on the U.S. market.[13]

U.S. Trade Representative

Robert Lighthizer meets with former Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee (and current Judiciary Committee Chairman) Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in January 2017

On January 2, 2017, Donald Trump announced that he planned to nominate Lighthizer as U.S. Trade Representative, a cabinet-level position.[2] Due to Lighthizer's prior representation of foreign governments with a trade dispute with the United States,[14] he needed to obtain a special waiver to bypass the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The waiver had to pass through Congress and receive the president's signature. Congress waived the ban for Charlene Barshefsky, President Clinton's choice for Trade Representative in 1997.[15][16]

Lighthizer was confirmed as U.S. Trade Representative on May 11, 2017, by a margin of 82–14.[17] He was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence on May 15, 2017.[18]

Political views

Tariffs

Lighthizer wrote that using tariffs to promote American industry was a Republican tenet dating back to the pro-business politicians who established the party.[19]

Trade with China

Lighthizer has accused China of unfair trade practices.[2] He wrote: “The icon of modern conservatism, Ronald Reagan, imposed quotas on imported steel, protected Harley-Davidson from Japanese competition, restrained import of semiconductors and automobiles, and took myriad similar steps to keep American industry strong. How does allowing China to constantly rig trade in its favor advance the core conservative goal of making markets more efficient? Markets do not run better when manufacturing shifts to China largely because of the actions of its government.”[2]

Lighthizer suggested that the U.S. should bring more cases against China for failure to comply with the regulations of the World Trade Organization. In testimony before the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission in 2010, Lighthizer stated that "USTR (U.S. Trade Representative) should pursue WTO litigation with respect to all such examples of non-compliance. If necessary, Congress should give USTR additional resources to increase its ability".[12]

Negotiating

Lighthizer has stated "I try to be friendly in negotiations. I'm not the theatrical type. The art of persuasion is knowing where the leverage is".[6]

Personal life

Lighthizer lives in Rockville, Maryland[1] and has two children.[1][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Ronald Reagan: Nomination of Robert Emmet Lighthizer To Be a Deputy United States Trade Representative
  2. ^ a b c d Jennifer Jacobs (January 2, 2017). "Trump Taps China Critic Lighthizer for U.S. Trade Representative". Bloomberg L.P.
  3. ^ "Roll Call vote PN42". United States Senate. 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2017-05-15. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ Panetta, Alexander (2017-05-11). "Trump trade czar now in place, wins Senate vote, sets up NAFTA process". CTVNews. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
  5. ^ Appelbaum, Binyamin; Thrush, Glenn (2017-04-27). "Trump's Day of Hardball and Confusion on Nafta". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
  6. ^ a b c d SUSAN F. RASKY (September 30, 1984). "THE STEEL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS; THE EXPERTS WHO WILL FORGE THE NEW QUOTAS". New York Times.
  7. ^ a b Anne Swardson (January 19, 1987). "ROBERT E. LIGHTHIZER". Washington Post.
  8. ^ a b "Robert E. Lighthizer". Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
  9. ^ a b Bill Allison (January 25, 2017). "Trump's Trade Pick May Face Hurdle Over Past Lobbying for Brazil". Bloomberg L.P.
  10. ^ "Lighthizer's turn in the hot seat". POLITICO. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  11. ^ MARA LIASSON (January 3, 2017). "Trump Picks Robert Lighthizer To Be U.S. Trade Representative". NPR.
  12. ^ a b Estelle Tran (January 5, 2017). "STEEL INDUSTRY CHEERS NOMINATION OF LIGHTHIZER AS US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE". Platts.
  13. ^ David Francis (January 9, 2017). "Trump's New Trade Guru May Actually Be the Adult in the Room". Foreign Policy Magazine.
  14. ^ Evans, Woody. "NewsBreaks: President Nominates Intellectual Property Advocate as Trade Rep". Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  15. ^ "Trump Trade Nominee Lighthizer Needs Waiver Over Work for China and Brazil". Bloomberg.com. 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  16. ^ "Morning Trade: Lighthizer ally named general counsel, acting USTR". The Agenda. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  17. ^ Mayeda, Andrew (May 11, 2017). "Lighthizer Approval as Trade Rep Paves Way for Nafta Talks". Bloomberg Politics. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  18. ^ Robert Lighthizer sworn in as US Trade Representative. Washington Post, May 15, 2017
  19. ^ Robert E. Lighthizer (May 9, 2011). "LIGHTHIZER: Donald Trump is no liberal on trade". Washington Times.
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Political offices
Preceded by United States Trade Representative
2017–present 		Incumbent
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