Robert Lighthizer

Robert Lighthizer served as the Trump Administration’s U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where he was responsible for a radical shift in U.S. trade policy, moving away from decades of support for a rules-based, multilateral trading system toward a more nationalist, protectionist approach. Lighthizer holds a very aggressive stance towards China and was a key architect behind Trump’s trade war with China.

Because of his ideological alignment with Trump on trade policy and China he was an influential voice within the White House. Lighthizer was one of the few senior Trump officials to stay on board for almost all four years, including past the January 6th insurrection.

Lighthizer holds a very aggressive stance towards China. He was reportedly a key architect of Trump’s trade war with China, advocating for and implementing significant tariffs on Chinese goods. During his tenure he implemented tariffs that included:

– Section 301 Tariffs - Imposed in multiple phases starting in 2018, targeting approximately $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. These tariffs ranged from 10% to 25% on a wide array of goods, including electronics, machinery, and consumer products.

– Steel and Aluminum Tariffs - Under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, Lighthizer imposed 25% tariffs on steel and 10% tariffs on aluminum imports, including from China.

By January 2020, the total value of Chinese goods subject to tariffs had reached approximately $370 billion, covering about three-quarters of all Chinese imports to the U.S, leading to significant economic tensions between the two nations​. According to the Tax Foundation, “Many economists have evaluated the consequences of the trade war tariffs on the American economy, with results suggesting the tariffs have raised prices and lowered economic output and employment since the start of the trade war in 2018.”

Notably, in 2017, three days after being confirmed as USTR, Lighthizer notified Congress that President Trump intended to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). One of the most controversial changes Lighthizer pushed for was the removal of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provision, which allowed companies to sue governments over laws they perceived as discriminatory. He was eventually able to help renegotiate NAFTA into the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Remarkably, Lighthizer spent more than $917,000 to furnish the two USTR offices near the White House. For comparison Ron Kirk, President Obama’s first trade ambassador, spent $237,000 on office furniture during the first 15 months of his term. His successor, Ambassador Michael Froman, spent $151,000 during a comparable time span.

Before joining the Trump administration, Lighthizer was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and led the firm’s international trade group. He previously worked for U.S. Senator Bob Dole and in the Reagan administration.

Note: Individuals included in the “Supply Chain” risk scenario would have decision-making purview over a regulatory space that greatly influences supply chains in key industries (e.g. agriculture, healthcare, technology, consumer goods), or whose influence on domestic or foreign policy could greatly disrupt aspects of supply chains, including shipping and logistics, trade agreements, and labor availability.