Senate Finance Staff Memo on USTR Nominee Focuses on Past Legal Work
A bipartisan Senate Finance Committee staff memo obtained by International Trade Today highlighted Robert Lighthizer past representations of foreign entities, representations in pending trade matters, and tax documentation as "issues ... appropriate to bring to the attention of Committee Members in advance of the hearing." While at the Skadden Arps law firm, Lighthizer represented Brazil in bilateral discussions with the U.S. to resolve ethanol trade disputes in 1985, potentially requiring a legislative waiver to secure Senate confirmation (see 1701250061). The Senate Finance Committee postponed a confirmation hearing for U.S. trade representative nominee Lighthizer from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. March 14 because of inclement weather.
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Senate Finance staff reviewed Lighthizer's committee questionnaire, recent tax returns and his financial disclosure and ethics agreement filed with the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), according to the memo. Lighthizer on Jan. 17 initially said in an answer to the questionnaire that he hadn't represented, advised or otherwise aided a foreign government or political organization in a trade matter. But he revised his answer on Jan. 27 to mention his involvement with Brazil. Democrats also flagged as a potential foreign representation Lighthizer's role in U.S. antidumping proceedings regarding electric fans from China, as Lighthizer outlined in a Feb. 2 submission to the committee, the memo said. The Republican Majority committee staff doesn't view the listed representation as clearly constituting a representation within the meaning of Trade Act of 1974, according to the memo.