Former International Trade Commissioner Shrugs Off ‘Doomsday’ Predictions

Trade became a hot topic this year: Out on the campaign trail, President Donald J. Trump railed against the threat of products imported from countries such as China and Mexico, and vowed to impose tariffs.

He and Hillary Clinton both denounced the Obama Administration’s 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership. On his first full day in office, Trump followed through and announced the U.S. would withdraw from it.

“Everybody is reexamining assumptions,” said Dean Pinkert, who joined Hughes Hubbard & Reed last week after serving ten years on the International Trade Commission, including two years as vice chairman.

Pinkert added, “There are always foreign policy considerations in ...