Shutdown Hitting U.S. Trade Rep’s Office This Week

Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. Trade Representative, has so far refused to say how the ongoing partial government shutdown will affect operations. Politico sources in the administration and industry sources all say the office likely starts furloughing employees as early as today (Monday). Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the shutdown likely won’t affect a visit by the Chinese Vice Premiere which is set for the end of the month. A Chinese delegation is scheduled to visit Washington, D.C., on January 30th to continue trade talks. It’s possible the shutdown will affect the USTR’s preparations for other major trade talks, including negotiations with Japan that could begin as soon as January 20th. A Japanese official tells Politico that there’s been no agreement to this point on a start date for negotiations and that the shutdown could temporarily stall the start of those important trade talks.