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USTR Still to Be 'Principal Negotiator' on Trade Deals, Trump Transition Says

The U.S. Trade Representative “will still obviously be the principal negotiator on trade deals,” transition spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters Dec. 28. Spicer will work as the press secretary in the administration of President-elect Donald Trump. In recent weeks, transition…

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officials have talked about the significance of Commerce secretary nominee Wilbur Ross, with one saying Ross would “ultimately direct” the incoming administration’s trade policy (see 1612200018). Expect “a much greater team effort” on trade in the new administration, with Ross and others such as Peter Navarro, an adviser who Trump has appointed as director of trade and industrial policy, playing an “instrumental role” and addressing “an agenda and a policy” in this realm, Spicer said. Trump announced Dec. 27 that Jason Greenblatt will be special representative for international negotiations, but that’s a role that will be “bigger than just trade,” Spicer told reporters Dec. 28. Trump has not named an intended nominee for the USTR position.