Donald Trump is expected to name Robert Lighthizer, a former trade official under President Ronald Reagan, to head the U.S. Trade Representative office, the first in a final push of appointments anticipated this week as Mr. Trump fills the remaining senior government vacancies in the run-up to his inauguration, transition advisers said.
So that means we are likely to have investor Wilbur Ross as head of the Commerce Department; Peter Navarro, a B-school prof, as head of a new entity called the National Trade Council; and long-time trade lawyer Lighthizer as U.S. Trade Rep. I've seen some speculation that USTR will have a diminished role in making trade policy in the Trump administration, with others taking the lead. But with Lighthizer's knowledge of the details of trade law and policy, isn't it likely he will be leading the way?
