Lighthizer gets Senate panel nod

Washington: A Senate panel on Wednesday unanimously approved President Donald Trump’s pick to represent the US in trade negotiations, a position that will place Robert Lighthizer in the centre of the administration’s efforts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and other pacts Trump has criticized as detrimental to the nation’s economy. The 26-0 vote by the Senate Finance Committee now moves Lighthizer’s nomination to the full Senate. Lighthizer served as deputy US trade representative under President Ronald Reagan and worked on trade issues as a lawyer.