Mark Warner was interviewed by BNN, CBC and Bloomberg TV Canada about President Elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be the next United States Trade Representative (“USTR“) and what it means for Canada. (January 3 & 4, 2017) While Trump’s choice of USTR and Chair of the National Trade Council are protectionists by reputation, he has also put pro-trade choices to lead the Treasury Department, State Department, Office of Management and Budget, Council of Economic Advisers and Vice-President, and his Commerce Secretary, although like Lighthizer with a background in the steel industry, has been supportive of trade in the past.  “Trumpian” trade policy may be more complex than simple pro or con. What is taking shape looks a lot like 1980s Reagan era free trade policy: tough enforcement; focus on market access; and trade and monetary policy integration.

Mr. Warner is a Canadian and U.S. lawyer who has practiced in Toronto, Washington, DC and New York and has advised governments on trade policy and trade negotiations and previously worked on trade and competition issues as counsel in the OECD Trade Directorate. Mr. Warner was Legal Director of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade and advised Ontario in the Canada-EU Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiations, on procurement issues in the Canada-U.S. Agreement on Government Procurement and on several NAFTA Chapter 11 Investor-State Arbitrations. He is co-author of a leading Canadian trade law treatise, has also published numerous articles and has been invited to speak at conferences around the world.