Senate Confirms Lighthizer as USTR, Which Tech Groups Welcome

The Senate on an 82-14 vote confirmed Robert Lighthizer as U.S. trade representative Thursday (see here), the last of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees to be confirmed, after partisan tensions over a legislative waiver to exempt Lighthizer from a foreign representation prohibition for USTRs complicated his path. Tech groups welcomed the action. Lighthizer (see 1703220015) was an attorney for Skadden Arps from 1985 to 2017, where he represented large U.S. companies and coalitions in antidumping and countervailing duty cases and at the World Trade Organization. He also was deputy USTR 1983-85. Republican Sens. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and John McCain of Arizona earlier this week voiced concerns about the then-nominee. Issuing supportive statements: BSA|The Software Alliance, CTA, the Internet Association and Telecommunications Industry Association.