WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, EE.UU. — The virtual president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, has turned to two officials with experience in navigating not only Washington, but also key issues such as income taxes and tariffs, to complete his economic team.
Trump announced Tuesday that he has chosen international trade lawyer Jamieson Greer to be his administration’s U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett to be director of the White House National Economic Council.
Although Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key positions, these elections reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely depend on restoring public confidence in the economy.
The president-elect also announced a number of other key personnel picks, including Vince Haley, who led Trump’s speechwriting department in his first term, as director of the Domestic Policy Council.
Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and other countries and replacing the trade deal with Canada and Mexico, “making it much better for American workers.”
Greer previously served as chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, Trump’s former trade representative who is deeply skeptical of free trade. Greer is currently a partner at the Washington law firm King & Spalding. Greer was not immediately available for comment.
If his appointment as trade representative is confirmed, Greer would be responsible for negotiating directly with foreign governments on trade agreements and disputes, as well as U.S. memberships in international trade bodies such as the WTO.
As director of the White House National Economic Council, Hassett joins the Trump administration as a leading advocate for tax cuts.
Trump said Hassett “will play an important role in helping American families recover from the inflation unleashed by the Biden administration” and that together they will “renew and enhance” the 2017 tax cuts, many of which are set to expire after 2025.
Hassett, 62, served as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers in Trump’s first term. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute before joining the White House in Trump’s first term in 2017.
Hassett will join a White House seeking to preserve and expand its 2017 tax cuts at a time when deficit pressures are weighing on federal borrowing costs.
He has argued that the tax cuts helped significantly increase household incomes. Inflation-adjusted median household income rose by more than $5,400 in 2019 to $81,210. But the tax cuts also came with higher budget deficits as economic gains failed to offset lost revenue, posing a challenge for the incoming Trump administration to manage the debt even as it cuts taxes and seeks to keep inflation low.
Another nomination announced Tuesday was that of private investor and art collector John Phelan, chosen to serve as secretary of the Navy. It is unclear whether Phelan, who co-founded MSD Capital, served in the Navy or Army.
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Boak reported from Nantucket, Massachusetts. Associated Press writer Paul Wiseman in Washington contributed to this report.
**How might the Trump administration’s focus on assertive trade policies, as suggested by the appointment of Jamieson Greer, impact the economic recovery post-pandemic, considering the potential for trade disruptions and increased costs for businesses?**
## Interview: Navigating Trump’s Economic Team
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News! Today, we have a fascinating topic to discuss: the formation of Donald Trump’s economic team for his second term. To guide us through the implications of these appointments, we have two esteemed guests: Dr. [Name], a renowned economist specializing in trade policy, and [Name], a political analyst with extensive experience in Washington D.C.
**Part 1: Trade Policy Muscle**
* **Host:** Dr. [Guest 1 Name], the appointment of Jamieson Greer as U.S. Trade Representative signals a continuation of Trump’s assertive trade policies. How do you interpret this choice, and what potential impact could it have on the global trade landscape? Could this lead to further trade wars or a more collaborative approach?
* **Host:** [Guest 2 Name], considering Greer’s past experience working with former Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, a known skeptic of free trade, what does this suggest about the Trump administration’s stance on multilateral trade agreements like the WTO?
**Part 2: Reviving the 2017 Tax Cuts**
* **Host:** Kevin Hassett, returning as Director of the White House National Economic Council, has been a vocal advocate for tax cuts. Mr. [Guest 2 Name], what are the arguments for and against renewing and expanding the 2017 tax cuts, especially considering the concerns regarding rising budget deficits and inflation?
* **Host:** Dr. [Guest 1 Name], the article mentions that inflation-adjusted median household income rose significantly in 2019 after the tax cuts. Can we directly attribute this rise to the tax cuts, and what other factors might have contributed to this increase?
**Part 3: Economic and Political Realities**
* **Host:** Both guests, Mr. Trump has expressed his intention to restore public confidence in the economy. What unique challenges will his economic team face in achieving this goal, considering the current economic climate and the political polarization surrounding economic policy?
* **Host:** Looking beyond the immediate team, what broader economic policies might we expect from the Trump administration in its second term, and how might these policies impact different sectors of the economy and different segments of society?
**Conclusion:**
* **Host:** Thank you both for providing such insightful analysis. The appointments made by Donald Trump paint a clear picture of his economic priorities for his second term. The coming months will reveal how these policies play out in practice and what their long-term consequences will be. We will continue to follow these developments closely and bring you further updates and analysis.
**Additional Notes:**
* Encourage guests to express their opinions and perspectives openly, even if they differ.
* Maintain a neutral and objective tone throughout the interview.
*
