Features

Trump taps Greer for USTR role
Written by Ethan Bernard
November 27, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated attorney and US Air Force Veteran Jamieson Greer to be the next US Trade Representative (USTR).
Greer is currently a partner at the law firm of King and Spalding, and previously served as the chief of staff at USTR.
“Jamieson played a key role during my first term in imposing tariffs on China and others to combat unfair trade practices, and replacing the failed NAFTA deal with USMCA,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday.
“His efforts under the former USTR Bob Lighthizer, a spectacular leader and person, helped spur the return of manufacturing jobs to America, and reverse decades of disastrous trade policies,” Trump added.
The President-elect noted that Greer will focus the Office of the USTR on “reining in the country’s massive trade deficit, defending American manufacturing, agriculture, and services, and opening up export markets everywhere.”
Greer is also a US Air Force veteran who served in Iraq, Turkey, and the US.

Ethan Bernard
Read more from Ethan BernardLatest in Features

SMU Survey: Current Sentiment tumbles on tariffs, uncertainty, soft demand
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices moved in opposing directions this week. Our Current Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Index dropped to one of the lowest levels recorded in over five years, while Future Buyers’ Sentiment inched higher.

SMU flat-rolled market survey results now available
SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the pricing and analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for “latest survey results.” Past survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results, or if […]

Final Thoughts
With SMU Steel Summit starting in just a few days, I decided to go back and do a quick check on where things stand now compared to the week before Summit last year.

SMU Survey: Buyers report little change in sheet and plate lead times
Steel buyers report steady lead times for sheet and plate products, a soft-sideways trend we've seen since May.

Canadian steelmakers call for protection after US adds derivatives to S232
The Canadian Steel Producers Association expressed dismay upon the news that the Trump administration had added over 400 products to the list of derivative products covered by the 50% Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum.