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Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Finance released a statement marking his opposition to the nomination of Jamieson Greer for US Trade Representative prior to the committee approving his nomination by a 16-11 vote.
Democratic lawmakers across Washington have been making stern statements as the new Administration sets to dismember the administrative state, though it should be noted the approval for Secretary of State Marco Rubio's nomination was unanimous.
Monday Feb 10, President Trump issued an executive order halting the initiation of new Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigations and mandating a review of ongoing enforcement actions.
The order comes in the wake of several high-profile corporate settlements under the statute, underscoring the administration’s concerns that current enforcement of the 47 year old Law is detrimental to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.
According to the Proclamation on Adjusting Imports of Steel into the United States, issued by President Donald J. Trump on February 10, 2025, the administration has reinstated and expanded the 25% ad valorem tariff on imported steel and derivative steel products. The proclamation cites national security concerns under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, and asserts that steel imports “are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.”
A Kyrgyz national and international arms dealer has been charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy and illegal smuggling of firearms from the United States to Russia. Sergei Zharnovnikov was arrested on January 24 in Las Vegas, while attending the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show.
Zharnovnikov is accused of orchestrating a complex scheme to circumvent U.S. export controls by funneling semi-automatic rifle-pistols through his Kyrgyz company to Russia. The indictment details his illegal procurement of firearms from a U.S.-based company in Chesapeake, Virginia, and subsequent exportation, in violation of U.S. export laws.
Jamieson Greer, President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, signaled a forceful approach to trade policy in his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing, emphasizing reciprocity, domestic production, and national security concerns. If confirmed, Greer is expected to reshape U.S. trade strategy with a strong emphasis on reducing trade deficits, enforcing trade agreements, and leveraging tariffs as a tool for economic and security objectives.
Greer, who previously served as chief of staff at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) during the Trump administration, framed his approach as “pragmatic,” focused on securing better terms for U.S. producers while addressing economic vulnerabilities. “If the United States does not have a robust manufacturing base and innovation economy, it will have little in the way of hard power to deter conflict and protect Americans,” he told senators. He underscored the need to restructure the international trading system to prioritize U.S. interests, warning that the window for such reform is narrowing.
What are we to make of the chaos being promulgated by the Trump White House as it settles in to governing? Check back tomorrow; we'll have a new answer.
From eliminating Valentine's Day roses, guacamole for the Super Bowl, the North American automotive industry, and America's compulsion for flimsy fast fashion, the Administration's "flood the zone" policy prescription has generated much heat and chatter, only to be walked back by weekend.
Friday President Trump continued the drumbeat, promising more tariff announcements to come “I’ll be announcing that next week. Reciprocal trade so that we’re treated evenly with other countries. We don’t want any more or any less,”
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