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Donald Trump has tapped Jamieson Greer to be the US commerce consultant and Kevin Hassett as director of the Nationwide Financial Council, rounding out his financial workforce after launching the primary huge tariff threats of his presidential transition.
Greer, a lawyer at King & Spalding in Washington, is a protégé of Robert Lighthizer, USTR throughout Trump’s first time period, who championed using tariffs and led commerce disputes with China and Europe in addition to the renegotiation of the Nafta commerce take care of Canada and Mexico. On the time, Greer served as Lighthizer’s chief of workers.
Greer’s nomination got here after Trump on Monday threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10 per cent tariffs on China on his first day in workplace, firing the primary salvo because the election in opposition to the highest US commerce companions.
On the marketing campaign path, Trump promised blanket levies of 20 per cent on all US imports, in addition to tariffs of 60 per cent on these from China, suggesting his second-term insurance policies might be much more protectionist and disruptive to the worldwide financial system and markets.
“[Greer’s] efforts under the former USTR, Bob Lighthizer, a spectacular leader and person, helped spur the return of Manufacturing jobs to America, and reverse decades of disastrous Trade policies,” Trump mentioned in an announcement asserting the appointment.
Whereas USTR is chargeable for commerce negotiations, it’s unclear whether or not Greer will wield the identical affect that Lighthizer did within the position.
Final week, Trump chosen Howard Lutnick, the co-chair of his transition workforce, to be his nominee for commerce secretary. He mentioned Lutnick would “lead our tariff and trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the [USTR]”, which would depart Greer with a diminished position.
Trump additionally selected Scott Bessent as his nominee for Treasury secretary final week. The hedge fund supervisor may also have a crucial position in shaping worldwide financial coverage.
Like Bessent, Hassett is seen as a practical choose who can be well-received by Washington and Wall Avenue. Hassett beforehand served as chair of the Council of Financial Advisors throughout Trump’s first presidential time period. On the NEC, he can be tasked with co-ordinating financial coverage.
In his new position, Hassett, a longtime supporter of the president-elect, may also can be instrumental in guiding Trump on extending tax cuts which might be set to run out. Trump has additionally made deregulation a pillar of his financial agenda, particularly because it pertains to the oil trade.
Hassett — who beforehand labored with former president George W Bush and Republican presidential candidates John McCain and Mitt Romney — has lengthy been a supporter of Trump’s tariff proposals in addition to his plans to chop taxes.
In an interview with the Monetary Occasions in October, Hassett talked about tariffs as a negotiating device and backed a powerful greenback, saying it “has been an important part of the global economy for a long time”.
He additionally mentioned an unbiased Federal Reserve was a “positive”, suggesting he might be at odds with Trump’s curiosity in having a better say over financial coverage selections. Hassett can be seen as a possible contender to switch Jay Powell when the Fed chair’s time period expires in Could 2026.
“I think that it’s important for fiscal policymakers to understand that if the Fed’s job is price stability, then the Fed will have to respond to fiscal policy,” Hassett mentioned.
