Trump’s pick for trade representative signals tougher line on China
Washington — US president-elect Donald Trump has picked lawyer Robert Lighthizer to head the US Trade Representative office, his transition team said Tuesday in a further sign the incoming administration will take a tougher line on China. "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," Trump said in an e-mailed statement. "He will do an amazing job helping turn around the failed trade policies which have robbed so many Americans of prosperity." Lighthizer, who was deputy trade representative during the Reagan administration, would replace Michael Froman, the Obama administration’s representative who led negotiations on a Pacific trade pact that would have covered nearly 40% of the global economy and was seen as a counterpoint to China’s rising clout. Trump, however, argues that deals such as the North American Free Trade Agree...
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