If there were any doubts about President-elect Donald Trump’s intent to enact higher tariffs, his choice for U.S. Trade Representative should put them to rest. Last week, Trump announced he’d nominated Jamieson Greer to succeed Katherine Tai as the nation’s top trade official.

Greer served as USTR chief of staff during the first Trump administration. The President-elect credits him for pushing through his policy goals.

“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, therefore making it much better for American workers,” Trump said in a Nov. 26 statement. “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.”

Greer’s views on China trade are well-documented. During a 2023 House Ways and Means Committee session on “countering” China’s trade and investment agenda, he argued China’s policies and practices are a threat to U.S. economic and national security. In his written testimony, Greer said he believes strong trade enforcement is good medicine for the U.S.-China relationship because it helps both sides understand issues of national importance. He added that “good fences make good neighbors,” arguing that trade enforcement is an important part of establishing those fences.

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“I do not subscribe to the myth that more trade reduces the likelihood of conflict, and continuing the move toward managed trade with China on a sectoral basis will be the most pragmatic way of dealing with its harmful economic behavior,” Greer said.

Among other things, Greer recommended revoking China’s permanent normal trade relations status, and subjecting the country to higher tariffs based on certain conditions.

President-elect Trump recently vowed to increase tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China on his first day in office. The new tariffs on China would be in addition to those imposed by Trump during his first term and expanded by President Biden.

Those three nations are the top suppliers of U.S. agriculture imports. Additional tariffs would likely trigger retaliatory tariffs of U.S goods, causing at least short-term harm for U.S. ag exports.

According to a recent study conducted by the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association, additional tariffs on Chinese goods would have a damaging effect, with permanent consequence extending “far beyond a short-term price drop.” 

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“Meanwhile, farmers in Argentina and Brazil would see higher soybean and corn prices and be poised to more rapidly expand their production areas,” the study concludes. “The economies of these two countries would benefit from rising production value. In short, South America would gain on all fronts at the expense of U.S. farmers and the U.S. economy.”

Notably, the study did not take into consideration how additional tariffs on Canada and Mexico, would further impact farmers. Despite that, Trump officials contend tariffs should be seen as a tool that will ultimately yield more jobs and better trade deals for all segments of the economy.

For now, ag leaders are publicly taking a wait-and-see approach to Greer’s nomination. Despite the concerns regarding new tariffs, there has been no public opposition to his nomination.