The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday approved President Trump’s nominee to be his top trade negotiator, and also approved legislation to waive a section of current law in order to allow him to advance.
Robert Lighthizer, who Trump nominated as his U.S. Trade Representative, worked for both China and Brazil, and that goes against current law that says the USTR cannot have represented any foreign entity on trade.
“A person who has directly represented, aided, or advised a foreign entity … in any trade negotiation, or trade dispute, with the United States may not be appointed as United States Trade Representative…” according to the Trade Act of 1974.
But on Tuesday, the committee approved legislation to get around that section of the law for Lighthizer. The committee approved the waiver legislation unanimously.
The committee also approved Lighthizer’s nomination by a unanimous vote, according to a Senate aide.
The votes set up floor consideration of Lighthizer, but Senate leaders had not scheduled a date for that vote as of this week.
