Jamieson Greer, Donald Trump’s pick for Trade Representative, is ready to do what many American leaders have only whispered: push for a complete economic break-up with China.
He sees Beijing as a long-term threat, not just an economic rival, and he’s got a complete blueprint to yank the U.S. out of China’s orbit. Greer has been clear that this strategy will hurt. “Short-term pain,” he says, but for what he believes is a long-term win for America.
During Trump’s first term, Greer worked as chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, the former U.S. Trade Representative. He played a major role in crafting and enforcing the tariffs that defined Trump’s trade war with China.
Now Greer is stepping into the top job, armed with an even tougher approach. The incoming administration’s plans are already underway, with Trump pledging to slap 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and add a 10% tax on Chinese goods.
The war on tariffs and trade relations
Greer’s first big move? He wants Congress to strip China of its “permanent normal trade relations” (PNTR) status, a label Beijing secured back in 2000 when it joined the World Trade Organization. Without this status, China’s exports to the U.S. (worth $500 billion last year) would face much higher tariffs.
It would also lump China into the same penalty box as Cuba, North Korea, and Belarus. For Greer, this is about making sure America stops playing by what he sees as Beijing’s rigged rules.
There’s also the issue of Chinese companies sneaking around tariffs by manufacturing goods in other countries. Greer wants that loophole closed. He proposes strict rules to ensure that if a Chinese company builds something in a third country—say, Mexico—or if a product contains significant Chinese parts, it won’t qualify for tariff exemptions under free trade agreements.
This crackdown would hit industries like auto manufacturing, where Chinese components are often buried deep in the supply chain.
Greer’s strategy also includes addressing China’s habit of retaliating against American businesses. If a U.S. company gets locked out of the Chinese market as payback for tariffs, Greer wants Washington to step in.
His plan includes using tariff revenue to support affected companies and workers. He’s even pushing for rules that allow the U.S. to go after foreign companies that swoop in to replace American businesses blocked by China.
Cutting technology and investment ties
Greer’s blueprint also includes blocking China’s access to critical U.S. technology. While current export controls already target cutting-edge sectors like AI chips and military systems, Greer wants to expand those restrictions.
His plan would include industries like aviation, transportation, and even older semiconductor equipment. For China, that means no new tools, no advanced tech, and no shortcuts to catching up with America.
This strategy doesn’t stop at the border. Greer wants the U.S. to rally its allies—countries like Japan, South Korea, and the Netherlands—to implement similar restrictions. By cutting China off from global supply chains, Greer aims to make it nearly impossible for Beijing to access the tools it needs to compete in critical industries.
Investment is another front in Greer’s economic war. He’s calling for Congress to give the federal government power to review—and block—U.S. investments in Chinese companies. This would apply to sectors that pose a national security or economic threat.
Some investments could be outright banned, while others would require government approval. These restrictions align with upcoming Biden-era rules targeting U.S. money flowing into China’s AI and semiconductor industries.
Beijing, of course, is furious. China’s Foreign Ministry has already lashed out at these proposals, calling them unfair and a blatant attempt to stifle its economic growth. But Greer isn’t budging.
Trump’s man is building America’s self-reliance
Greer’s ultimate goal is to make America less dependent on China for critical goods. His solution? Ramp up domestic manufacturing in key sectors. Industries like pharmaceuticals, robotics, medical devices, and energy products are high on his list.
He wants Congress to expand incentives under laws like the CHIPS Act, which allocated $39 billion to boost semiconductor production in the U.S. and another $11 billion for research.
Greer also suggests tightening rules to block Chinese firms from selling products to the U.S. government. He’s also pushing for a China-specific sanctions regime that would target issues like human rights abuses and international security threats.
These sanctions could cut Chinese companies out of lucrative government contracts and limit their ability to operate in the U.S. market.
Crypto could be another battleground in this trade war. Trump is literally creating a dedicated White House role to oversee crypto regulation. Greer’s policies could consequently impact how cryptocurrencies are taxed, traded, and regulated, particularly when it comes to Chinese blockchain projects.
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