Robert Lighthizer Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Lighthizer
Official portrait, 2017

18th United States Trade Representative
In office May 15, 2017 – January 20, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Deputy	Jeffrey Gerrish C.J. Mahoney Dennis Shea
Preceded by	Michael Froman
Succeeded by	Katherine Tai
1st United States Deputy Trade Representative
In office April 15, 1983 – August 16, 1985
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Position established

Personal details
Born	Robert Emmet Lighthizer (1947-10-11) October 11, 1947 (age 77) Ashtabula, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Children	2
Education	Georgetown University (BA, JD)

Robert Emmet Lighthizer (born October 11, 1947) is an American lawyer and government official. He served as the U.S. Trade Representative for President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021. This job involves handling trade deals and policies for the United States.

After finishing law school in 1973, Lighthizer worked for a law firm. Later, he worked for Senator Bob Dole in the U.S. Senate. In 1983, he became the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative for President Ronald Reagan. He then worked as a lawyer specializing in international trade for over 30 years. In 2017, President Trump chose him to be the U.S. Trade Representative.

Lighthizer was very important in shaping America's trade rules during Trump's time as president. He believed in protecting American jobs and factories. He played a big part in changing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and in the trade discussions with China. Many of his trade ideas have continued to be used by the government even after he left office.

Early Life and School
Career Journey
- Leading U.S. Trade Policy
His Ideas on Trade
Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and School

Robert Lighthizer was born on October 11, 1947, in Ashtabula, Ohio. His father was a doctor. Robert went to Georgetown University, where he earned his first degree in 1969. He then got his law degree from the same university in 1973.

Career Journey

Lighthizer meeting President Ronald Reagan in 1983

After law school, Lighthizer started working as a lawyer in Washington, D.C. In 1978, he began working for Senator Bob Dole. He helped Senator Dole with important financial matters in the Senate. He also helped with President Reagan's tax cuts and changes to Social Security.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan chose Lighthizer to be the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. In this role, Lighthizer worked on many international trade agreements. These agreements covered things like steel, cars, and farm products.

In 1985, Lighthizer joined a big law firm called Skadden, Arps. For over 30 years, he helped American workers and businesses with international trade issues. He worked to open up new markets for U.S. products and protected American industries from unfair trade. He was especially known for defending the steel industry.

Lighthizer also worked on Senator Bob Dole's campaigns for president in 1988 and 1996.

Leading U.S. Trade Policy

Lighthizer with Senator Chuck Grassley in January 2017

On January 3, 2017, Donald Trump announced he wanted Lighthizer to be the U.S. Trade Representative. This is a very important job, like being part of the president's main team.

During his hearing to get the job, Lighthizer was supported by Senator Bob Dole and other senators. They said he was very qualified and had a long history of helping American businesses and workers.

On May 11, 2017, the Senate voted to approve Lighthizer for the job. He was sworn in on May 15, 2017.

Just three days later, Lighthizer announced that President Trump wanted to change the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This was a big deal because he was the first U.S. Trade Representative to renegotiate such a major trade agreement.

Lighthizer became one of the most important people in the Trump administration. He was the main person in charge of creating the country's trade policies. He played a key role in changing NAFTA and in the trade discussions with China.

His Ideas on Trade

Tariffs

Lighthizer believes that using tariffs can help American industries. Tariffs are taxes on goods imported from other countries. He thinks they can help balance trade and bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States. He has said that protecting American industries with tariffs is an old idea that many pro-business politicians supported.

Trade Agreements

Lighthizer thinks a good trade agreement should help the economy, be efficient, and support working people. He called the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), which he helped negotiate, a "model deal." He also believes that countries should choose between having trade deals with many countries or with just a few, as they can sometimes conflict.

Trade with China

Lighthizer with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in January 2019

Lighthizer has been cautious about China for a long time. He has said that China uses unfair trade practices. He believes China needs to make big, real changes to its trade rules, not just small ones. He pointed out that even President Ronald Reagan used trade protections to keep American industries strong.

In 1997, Lighthizer argued against letting China join the World Trade Organization (WTO). He thought the U.S. should challenge China more often when it didn't follow WTO rules. He also suggested that the WTO itself might need to be changed.

Making Things in America

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lighthizer said that the United States needs to make more of its own medical supplies. He believed it was important to rely less on other countries for these important items.

Personal Life

Robert Lighthizer lives in Florida. His wife, Cathy, passed away in 2014. He has two children, Robert and Claire, and three grandchildren.

His brother, O. James Lighthizer, is an expert on the American Civil War. He used to lead an organization that works to preserve Civil War battlefields.