House committee members grill Trump trade representative over tariffs

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer answered pointed questions on tariff policy at a Wednesday hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee, which began hours before President Donald Trump temporarily rolled back reciprocal tariffs on most countries. Committee members learned of the pause mid-hearing, with several expressing frustration and anger as they asked Greer if the Trump administration had a tariff strategy. Greer said he previously discussed a pause with the president, but did not disclose it at the beginning of the hearing. When asked why, he said it was not his practice to disclose closed-door conversations with the president.

Both Republican and Democratic representatives during the hearing expressed concerns about economic uncertainty and increased costs passed on to their constituents following the sweeping April 2 tariffs. Representatives from both parties also questioned Greer on the time it would take to move various manufacturing capabilities into the United States. Greer did not give a specific answer, but said tariffs currently don’t apply to pharmaceuticals or semiconductors because those industries will take more time to shift to domestic production.

Republicans and Democrats also both expressed support for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, or USMCA, and asked Greer to ensure the President does not withdraw from it.

What did Greer say about the status of the USMCA? Greer confirmed that goods covered by the agreement are not subject to tariffs, at least for now. Greer also said he wants to change some parts of the agreement when it comes up for review in July 2026. The agreement should be modified to exclude third-party countries from setting up bases in Canada and Mexico to export cheaply into the United States without making their own agreements, Greer said.

What’s Greer’s short-term forecast for the outcome of the new tariffs? Greer said he expects a handful of trading partners to remove trading barriers with the United States soon, which would make U.S.-based manufacturing a more attractive option for companies. As companies move production to America, more countries will be incentivized to drop trading barriers, he said.

How did Greer respond to objections Democrats raised about Trump’s use of emergency powers to regulate trade? Trump was justified in invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act because America’s $1.2 trillion trade deficit puts immense and unfair strain on the economy, Greer said. Any comprehensive trade agreements would come to Congress for a vote as required by law, he said.

Greer also said he fulfilled the act’s requirement that the executive branch consult with Congress by calling both the head and ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee to discuss the impending tariffs. Ranking Member Richard Neal, D-Mass., said the call was not a consultation and characterized it as simply informing him of the coming action. Committee head Jason Smith, R-Mo., agreed with Greer’s characterization of the interaction.

How did Greer respond to objections about his multiple roles in the Trump administration? Greer serves as acting head of the Office of Special Counsel and acting director of the Office of Government Ethics, as well as U.S. trade representative. His other two roles require him to oversee ethics and whistleblowing cases. Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., during the hearing said it was ridiculous that Greer as acting special counsel was charged with overseeing his own organization. Greer said he would recuse himself if any conflict of interest arose. Sanchez and three other Congress members on Wednesday sent Greer a letter demanding he explain how he manages three full-time roles.

Is the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative planning to fill staffing gaps in order to increase its negotiating capability? Trump’s nominee for chief agricultural negotiator would be announced soon, Greer said. The position of chief intellectual property negotiator was still unfilled as of Wednesday afternoon.

How many countries have begun trade negotiations with the United States since the imposition of the April 2 tariffs? About 70 countries have contacted Trump for negotiations, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. Greer said he had personally met with counterparts from the U.K. and Kenya recently to negotiate.