[CTC] DiMicco to head Trump's USTR transition; Malpass, Walton to oversee economic team

[Arthur Stamoulis]

INSIDE US TRADE
 
DiMicco to head Trump's USTR transition; Malpass, Walton to oversee economic team
November 09, 2016

Dan DiMicco, former chief executive of steel producer Nucor and senior trade adviser for President-elect Donald Trump's campaign, will lead the Trump administration's transition efforts for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, according to a document obtained by Inside U.S. Trade.

Bill Walton, vice president of the conservative Council for National Policy, and David Malpass, a senior economic adviser to Trump who served as deputy assistant Treasury secretary under President Reagan and deputy assistant secretary of state President George H.W. Bush, will jointly oversee “economic issues” on the transition team.

DiMicco's role of managing the USTR transition falls under that category, along with other agencies, according to a chart laying out the structure of Trump's transition team by agency.

Accordingly, Malpass will also deal with the Treasury Department's transition.

Ray Washburn, a reportedly integral player in Trump's fundraising efforts during the campaign, will head the Commerce Department transition effort, the document shows.

During the campaign, DiMicco -- much like Trump -- said trade agreements like NAFTA eliminated jobs and hollowed out the American manufacturing base. He also has blasted China for dumping steel into global markets and allegedly manipulating its currency.

One source said that heads of agency transitions have a higher chance of being nominated for the analogous cabinet position once the new president is sworn in, and that DiMicco would likely be interested and willing to serve as USTR in a Trump administration.

A different source, who independently listed DiMicco as a potential USTR pick, said his economic policies are “off the charts” relative to mainstream economic thinking. That source said DiMicco's approach to economics would not translate into policies that benefit American workers.

President Obama will meet with Trump Thursday morning at the White House to discuss the transition. Obama in remarks on Nov. 9 pledged to assist Trump in his transition as best he could. -- Jack Capora
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