The Republican chair of the committee, Orrin Hatch, got it started by urging the trade nominee to get more aggressive in screening cargo from Canada for counterfeit or pirated products. He was followed by the committee's top Democrat, Ron Wyden, who urged a similarly tough approach on softwood lumber. Certainly (softwood) is at the top of the list," said Lighthizer, who is vying to become the United States trade representative. The former Reagan administration official and steel-industry lawyer has frequently expressed frustration with modern trade deals, and derided the idea of completely open trade. Lighthizer used to work on that same Senate committee as a young staffer several decades ago.

Source: CBC News March 14, 2017 20:07 UTC