Democrats: Trump’s trade nominee needs waiver
WASHINGTON — Even as they praised him, Senate Democrats said Tuesday that Donald Trump’s pick to represent the U.S. in trade negotiations needs a waiver from Congress to legally hold the job because of his previous work for foreign clients.
Republicans disagree but the dispute could slow the confirmation of Robert Lighthizer to become the U.S trade representative.
Lighthizer is an experienced trade official who, in private practice, represented “a small number of foreign clients in the late 1980s and early 1990s,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
A 1995 law prohibits anyone who has represented a foreign entity in trade negotiations with the U.S. from being the nation’s top trade representative. Nevertheless, Hatch said the Justice Department does not believe Lighthizer requires a waiver.
Several Democrats disagreed at Lighthizer’s Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday.
“As a legal matter, Mr. Lighthizer’s previous work for foreign governments makes him ineligible to be appointed as the United States trade representative,” said Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Finance Committee.
Wyden said Democrats are willing to pass a waiver for Lighthizer but only if Republicans pass an unrelated bill to protect retired coal miners’ pension and health care benefits. The miners’ pension plan is headed toward insolvency.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken., has introduced legislation to maintain the miners’ benefits. But Democrats complain that the Senate is not moving fast enough.