Donald Trump has tapped Jamieson Greer to be the US trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the National Economic Council, rounding out his economic team after launching the first big tariff threats of his presidential transition.

Greer, a lawyer at King & Spalding in Washington, is a protégé of Robert Lighthizer, USTR during Trump’s first term, who championed the use of tariffs and led trade disputes with China and Europe as well as the renegotiation of the Nafta trade deal with Canada and Mexico. At the time, Greer served as Lighthizer’s chief of staff.

Greer’s nomination came after Trump on Monday threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10 per cent tariffs on China on his first day in office, firing the first salvo since the election against the top US trade partners.