The Trump administration’s top trade official is landing on Capitol Hill at the hottest moment for trade in years, with Wall Street and the business world desperate for any insight into President Donald Trump’s plans.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will testify before the Senate Finance Committee this morning and the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday. Here’s a look at what Greer plans to tell senators, which we scooped Monday.
Greer’s testimony comes as some Republicans are starting to – delicately – express alarm about Trump’s massive new tariffs. Republicans still feel immense pressure not to break with Trump on anything. But market mayhem is a tough pill to swallow.
Finance Republicans’ view. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who has “a lot of questions” for Greer, told reporters that the markets need to see specific trade negotiations for things to calm down.
“The markets are not going to cease in voting no-confidence until they begin to see that,” said Tillis, who’s up for reelection in 2026. Tillis has warned that the tariffs could even undermine Republicans’ reconciliation bill.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), another panel member, just launched a bipartisan bill to require congressional approval of tariffs within 60 days. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has already dismissed the effort.
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) said he’s been encouraging the administration to “bring more clarity” to business leaders and markets amid the trade wars.
“I think there’s a real opportunity to pocket some wins, reset relations and then move on to some other issues,” Young added.
Changing the narrative. Officials from as many as 70 countries have reached out for negotiations in the wake of the tariffs, according to Trump administration officials. Several Republicans said they plan to ask Greer more about that.
“He will be able to really contrast inaction from the last four years to a very aggressive trade posture right now,” said Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), chair of Ways and Means’ Trade Subcommittee.
The Dems: Democrats will have a field day pressing Greer on Trump’s tariffs — from their impact on prices to the broader economy. This is a huge opportunity for Democrats to score political points, and they’ve been taking it.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) told us that Democrats will talk about “why it doesn’t make sense to cling to these authorities of yesteryear” that allowed Trump’s tariffs and for Congress to step in on trade.
