USTR Nominee's Past Lobbying Included Media Clients

President-elect Donald Trump's intended nominee for U.S. Trade Representative has some experience in lobbying for the media industry. Trump wants Robert Lighthizer, a former trade official in the Reagan administration, for the job, his transition team said Tuesday. Lighthizer also has experience at the firm of Skadden Arps, including several lobbying clients, according to a search of records of the Lobbying Disclosure Act Database. His name shows up in a lobbyist search on 2000’s mid-year reports for NAB and News Corp. There will be close coordination between Wilbur Ross, Trump's pick for Commerce secretary (see 1612200017), and Peter Navarro, head of the new White House National Trade Council, "to develop and implement policies that shrink our trade deficit, expand economic growth, strengthen our manufacturing base and help stop the exodus of jobs from our shores," said a transition team statement. Lighthizer emerged as contender for the USTR job when he was named to Trump's "landing team" for the USTR transition. Initial reactions from congressional Democrats were largely positive. Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said he looks forward to hearing how Lighthizer plans to develop "a trade policy that is as effective for the millworker in Medford, Oregon, as it is for the software developer in Silicon Valley." Wyden also took a shot at Trump's use of Twitter to lay out policy. “It is well past time for the incoming administration to explain its approach toward international trade beyond 140 characters," he said.