Robert Lighthizer | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2017 | |
| Trade Czar of the United States | |
Designate | |
| Assuming office January 20, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Secretary of Commerce | Howard Lutnick(nominee) |
| Succeeding | Position established |
| 18thUnited States Trade Representative | |
| In office May 15, 2017 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Jeffrey Gerrish C.J. Mahoney Dennis Shea |
| Preceded by | Michael Froman |
| Succeeded by | Katherine Tai |
| 1stUnited States Deputy Trade Representative | |
| In office April 15, 1983 – August 16, 1985 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Emmet Lighthizer (1947-10-11)October 11, 1947 (age 77) Ashtabula, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Georgetown University (BA,JD) |
Robert Emmet Lighthizer (born October 11, 1947) is anAmericanlawyer.[1][2] He was the 18thUnited States Trade Representative from May 15, 2017 to January 20, 2021.[3]
Lighthizer is a partner with the law firm ofSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he works to gain access to foreign markets on behalf of U.S. corporations.[4] In the 1980s, he served as deputy trade representative duringPresidentRonald Reagan's administration.[5]
Lighthizer was born inAshtabula, Ohio. He graduated with aBachelor of Arts in 1969 and aJuris Doctor in 1973 fromGeorgetown University.
From 1973 through 1978, before working in government, Lighthizer worked for the Washington, DC law firm ofCovington & Burling.[6]
In 1983, during the administration ofPresidentRonald Reagan, he became deputy trade representative.[6][7] He negotiated two dozen bilateral international agreements on subjects ranging from steel to grain.[7]
In 1985, Lighthizer negotiated against the United States, on behalf ofBrazil, in a trade dispute over ethanol.[8] Between 1985 and 1990, Lighthizer represented five foreign clients.[8]
He has been a long time supporter of the U.S.steel industry.[9] He convinced Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and the United Kingdom to accept “voluntary restraint agreements” to limit the amount of cheap steel they could dump on the U.S. market.[10]
On January 3, 2017, then-President-electDonald Trump announced that he planned to nominate Lighthizer asU.S. trade representative, acabinet-level position.[11]
Lighthizer's nomination was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on a 82-14 vote.[3]
During his time in office, he focused on American trade policy during Trump's first presidency. His policies were focused toward protection ofmanufacturing in the United States. Lighthizer had an important role in the administration's renegotiation ofNAFTA and the United States' trade war withChina. Many of these trade policies have been kept by theBiden administration.[12]
In November 2024, President-elect Trump said that Lighthizer will serve as his "trade czar" during his second administration.[13]
Lighthizer lives inRockville, Maryland[6] and has 2 children.[6][14]
Media related toRobert Lighthizer at Wikimedia Commons
Quotations related toRobert Lighthizer at Wikiquote
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