More bricklayers for Trump’s trade wall
US PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP is expected to nominate Robert Lighthizer, known for his protectionist views, to be the US trade representative. Beijing News commented on Wednesday:
A longtime advocate of protectionism, Robert Lighthizer is likely to be the latest prominent hardliner to join the Trump administration, which has shown a special taste for trade hawks. During the years Lighthizer served as deputy trade representative in the administration of former US president Ronald Reagan, the US was in constant trade wars with Japan.
Trump is well known for his inclination to take risks and make audacious moves, as revealed on the campaign trail. That said, his provocative and extreme arguments, online and offline, merit high vigilance at a time when he is set to appoint a trade hawk to deliver on his campaign promises to counter “unfair trading practices” by China, for example.
Making China the scapegoat for the US’ economic woes and pledging to keep illegal immigrants at bay worked well for Trump during the election.
Trump’s choice of Cabinet members is a clear signal that his administration will adopt aggressive trade policies, fueling the rising protectionist sentiment in the world’s largest economy.
On the judicial front, conservatism might also prevail. The US president-elect is expected to retain the right to nominate one to four new Supreme Court judges. His possible nomination could make a major difference in the top judicial body, which is led by nine justices with an average term of 25 years and has the right to strike down a law as unconstitutional.
Among the five justices that are unlikely to retire shortly, three are conservative and two liberal. In other words, the pendulum is very likely to swing in the favor of the conservatives should Trump keep practicing his preference for protectionism. With the prospect of Washington beefing up its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region and pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, the world faces more uncertainties.