Trump May Consider Lighthizer as US Trade Representative, According to Financial Times

Robert Lighthizer, a staunch advocate of tariffs, has received an invitation to return to the position of United States Trade Representative under the administration of elected President Donald Trump, the Financial Times reported, citing several sources close to the transition team. Lighthizer played a crucial role in Trump's trade battle against China and in renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada during Trump's first term.

Trump has begun to assemble his core team following his electoral victory last Tuesday. According to the FT, Lighthizer had expressed interest in a different position, such as Secretary of Commerce. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On Thursday, Trump announced that he had selected Susie Wiles, one of his two campaign heads, as the new White House Chief of Staff. Trump plans to continue with the aggressive trade agenda from his first term, implementing a 10% tariff on imported goods and raising rates even further on imports from China and other countries. If realized, this could lead to higher prices for consumers. Recently, the top representative of China in the US warned that trade wars and tariffs do not produce winners, just like conflicts over technology and industry.

It's essential to consider that tariff policies, while they may seem beneficial for boosting domestic industry, can also have adverse consequences. Raising tariffs can lead to increased costs for imported products, which in turn affects consumers' purchasing power and could generate unwanted inflation. It's a complex issue that requires a proper balance between protecting the internal economy and maintaining affordable prices for the population.