The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, chaired by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), will hold a hearing on the Activities and Fiscal Year 2026 Funding Priorities of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Tuesday.
Here are four possible questions Senators may consider asking Ambassador Jamieson Greer.
High U.S. tariffs reduce the ability of our trading partners to earn dollars to spend on U.S. farm exports. In economic terms, a tax on imports is a tax on exports. Are the Trump Administration’s recently announced farm subsidies enough to make up for the lost export markets resulting from increased U.S. tariffs?
President Trump has promised to pursue reciprocal tariffs. However, earlier this year, Subcommittee member John Kennedy (R-LA) asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick whether this was still the Administration’s goal: “If Vietnam, for example, came to you tomorrow and said, ‘Okay, Mr. Secretary, you win, we're going to remove all tariffs and all trade barriers.’ Would the United States please do the same? Would you accept that deal?” Secretary Lutnick replied, “Absolutely not.” Does Amb. Greer agree that the Administration no longer is interested in reciprocal trade?
Amb. Greer, you recently stated, “People are worried about housing, they’re worried about healthcare — things we don’t import.” Do tariffs on things like lumber, kitchen cabinets, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals affect housing and healthcare costs? Similarly, how would the “very severe tariffs” on Canadian fertilizer that were threatened this week affect farmers?
The Trump Administration has criticized foreign investment for financing foreign control of American manufacturing, supply chains, and economic life, weakening the independence of our nation. However, recent trade deals have sought increased foreign investment in the United States. Should the U.S. government welcome foreign investment, or discourage it?
As USTR, Amb. Greer plays an important role in implementing the Trump Administration’s stated policy of defending Americans’ freedom to choose from a variety of goods, combating the high cost of living, and pursuing an America First trade policy that benefits American workers, manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, and businesses. These questions may help senators evaluate the success of its efforts.