Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall participated in the Senate Finance Committee's nomination hearing for Jamieson Greer, President Trump's nominee for U.S. Trade Representative. The hearing focused on past trade policies and future strategies to prioritize American interests.

Senator Marshall questioned Greer about President Trump's history with tariffs and trade agreements, seeking insights into how Greer plans to leverage these relationships for the benefit of the United States.

Greer's career includes significant experience in military and international trade roles, including serving as Chief of Staff to former USTR Robert Lighthizer. This background was highlighted during the discussion on trade negotiations.

The hearing included comparisons between trade agreements under Presidents Trump and Biden. Senator Marshall pointed out that "Under President Trump, he gave us [the United States-Mexico-Canada] Agreement... Mr. Greer, what trade agreements were accomplished under Joe Biden?" To which Greer responded, "Senator, I’m not aware of any."

On issues with Mexico affecting American agriculture and energy sectors, Greer emphasized enforcement: "...any trade agreement we have is only as valuable as the enforcement behind it... we need to enforce that."

Regarding biofuels, Marshall noted tariff disparities: "The U.S. is subject to 18% tariffs going into Brazil with biofuels..." Greer expressed frustration at such inequities: "Well, Senator, this is the specific kind of unfairness that drives me crazy."

For China's compliance with Trump's Phase One deal, Greer stated: "We need to start by reviewing it... We want to be able to very clearly see where they did or did not comply."

Discussing tariffs as a tool for advancing American interests without causing inflationary pressure on consumers, Marshall mentioned previous successes under Trump: "...those tariffs were used properly..." Greer agreed on their effective use: "I agree 100% with that... if I’m confirmed, I expect to be able to take strong trade action while helping ensure that the economy is growing for average Americans."