Senate Finance Committee Plans Confirmation Hearing Tuesday for USTR Nominee

The Senate Finance Committee plans a hearing at 10 a.m. Tuesday to consider the nomination of Robert Lighthizer as U.S. Trade Representative, the committee announced. “In order for Congress to have a strong say in the Trump Administration’s trade policy agenda, we need to confirm the USTR as soon as possible,” said Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. Hatch said he looks forward to hearing how Lighthizer plans to protect American intellectual property rights overseas. Hatch last month said his committee would draft waiver legislation to set the stage for Lighthizer’s confirmation, because he represented the Brazilian Ministry of Industry and Commerce for the Skadden Arps law firm more than 15 years ago (see 1701030014). The Trade Act of 1974 prevents anyone who represented other governments on trade issues with the U.S. from serving as USTR or deputy USTR.