“President Trump recognizes the role unfair trade practices have played in offshoring American jobs and harming our national security. Under President Trump’s leadership, I will work strategically to address unfair trade practices, open new markets, tackle our record trade deficit, and restore America’s ability to become a country of producers,” so says Jamieson Greer after his 56-43 Senate vote confirmation to be America’s U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

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Ambassador Greer certainly has his work cut out for him with President Trump’s bold plan to restore America’s economy with his robust trade and tariff agenda. Both men believe America has been mistreated by its trading partners, who impose much higher tariffs on American goods entering their country than America does on theirs.

They believe that tariffs on imports will protect U.S. industry, stimulate foreign investment, bring manufacturing back to the U.S., and raise revenue for the Treasury.

Along with the president, Mr. Greer’s priority is to put America First on trade, expand foreign markets access for Made in America products, and ensure America has balance and reciprocity in its trading relationships.

“Trade policy — including the use of tariffs — is an essential part of strengthening and reestablishing our domestic industrial base,” Greer said. “I believe President Trump’s leadership and transformative vision for improving American domestic and foreign policy will result in substantial economic growth.”

What is the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative?

The Office of USTR was created by President Kennedy in 1962. It is staffed by 200 people with specialized experience in trade issues and has offices in D.C., Geneva, and Brussels.

In addition to negotiating with foreign countries, the USTR coordinates trade policy among various U.S. agencies, resolves disagreements, and advises the president on international trade policy. USTR is a cabinet-level position and reports directly to the president.

Fortunately, Ambassador Greer has extensive experience in international trade and will work closely with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to oversee the president’s robust trade agenda.

Trump’s Top Trade Negotiator

Mr. Greer was born in 1980 and grew up in Paradise, California. He earned his bachelor’s degree in international studies from Brigham Young University. He obtained a master’s degree in global business law from l’Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) and l’Université de Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.

He graduated from the University of Virginia Law School and began his legal career serving in the military as a lawyer for the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He served from 2008 to 2012 and was deployed to Iraq. He rose to the rank of captain.

After his military service, Mr. Greer joined the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, specializing in trade law.

He then went to work for the Chief of Staff to Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. Trade Representative in Trump’s first term. As such, Mr. Greer was heavily involved in trade negotiations with China and played a key role in Trump’s first-term tariffs worth $370 billion on China’s goods. These tariffs worked so well that Mr. Biden kept most of Trump’s first-term import tariffs and added a few more.

Greer also worked to revamp the North American Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, “making it better for American workers,” claims President Trump.

In May 2020, Mr. Greer left his government position to join the law office of King & Spalding, a global law firm with expertise in international litigation. He represented clients, such as domestic manufacturing companies, in trade remedy cases and before the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission.

Mr. Greer is a Mormon. He and his wife have five children.

When nominating Mr. Greer as USTR, Mr. Trump posted, “Jamieson will focus the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on reining in the Country’s massive Trade Deficit, defending American Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Services, and opening up Export Markets everywhere.”

An America First Trade Agenda

Mr. Greer is in full support of President Trump’s trade and tariff agenda to bring an end to America’s trade deficit. The deficit is the gap between what goods and services America sells to other countries and what we buy from other countries. In 2024, America bought $918 billion more goods from other countries than we sold, up 17% from 2023.

To combat America’s growing trade deficit, President Trump on April 2^nd announced new tariffs on every country.

Mr. Greer responded to Liberation Day (as Mr. Trump calls the day), “Today, President Trump is taking urgent action to protect the national security and economy of the United States. The current lack of trade reciprocity, demonstrated by our chronic trade deficit, has weakened our economic and national security. President Trump has prioritized swift action to bring reciprocity to our trade relations and reduce the trade deficit by leveling the playing field for American workers and manufacturers, reshoring American jobs, expanding our domestic manufacturing base, and ensuring our defense-industrial base is not dependent on foreign adversaries—all leading to stronger economic and national security.”

China Trade Concerns

Ambassador Greer’s top concern is China. He believes China is seeking industrial global domination. He warns that strong action by the U.S. is needed to protect U.S. jobs and industries. He also wants stronger export controls to protect sensitive U.S. technologies from China, and for the U.S. to reduce its supply chain dependency on China.

“I’m gravely concerned not only with Chinese efforts to dominate global markets and some of the most important technologies and advanced manufactured goods, but also with the Chinese government’s use of trade investment to support its state-owned enterprises, its military, and then to drive an economy that appears to be gearing up for conflict with the United States and others,” Greer said.

He believes increasing tariffs could help the U.S. compete with China’s growing economic influence. Ambassador Greer is a key player in all of America’s international trade negotiations, not just China.

His role will be influential in shaping future trade agreements, impacting global trade and the U.S. economy. “We can ensure that international trade benefits American workers and their families and promotes our military, economic, and technological dominance over the long term,” he said.

Let’s Pray for Ambassador Jamieson Greer, USTR

Father, You are the ruler of all nations and kingdoms. (Psalm 22:8, Daniel 7:14) You are the King of Kings. In Your hands is all power and authority.

We lift up Ambassador Jamieson Greer, our U.S. Trade Representative, and ask that You guide him to do Your will as he negotiates trade agreements with foreign nations. We ask You to give him wisdom and knowledge. (Daniel 2:20-23) May Holy Spirit guide him in his work. May he be faithful, fair, and true in his dealings with foreign trade counterparts. May he give wise and trustworthy counsel to President Trump and Commerce Secretary Lutnick.

Lord, we lift up his family to You and ask that You bless them and keep them in love and harmony. Draw Ambassador Greer close to You. Give him a deep hunger for Your true Gospel. By Your Grace, lift the deceptive veil of Mormonism from his eyes and turn his heart to the truth of biblical scripture. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Add your own prayers for Ambassador Greer in the comments.

Belinda Brewster analyzes cultural, political, and world events from a biblical worldview. Belinda’s passion is to equip, support, and encourage parents and grandparents who are courageously battling against the spiritual and cultural forces impacting children and grandchildren. Photo Credit: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images.