Donald Trump is expected to tap a longtime advocate of greater protectionism as his US trade representative in yet another signal that his administration is poised to enact the aggressive trade policies he advocated during the campaign into government.
Robert Lighthizer, whose impending nomination was reported by US media on Monday, has been seen as the favourite for the trade role for weeks and has been leading the Trump transition team’s meetings with Obama administration trade officials.
He served as deputy US trade representative in the administration of Ronald Reagan at a time when the office was renowned for its trade battles with Japan and has long represented the US steel industry as a partner at law firm Skadden Arps.