Perdue Emerges as Possible Ag Secretary; U.S. Trade Rep Named

Former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue is emerging as President-elect Donald Trump's selection for agriculture secretary, but no official announcement has been made.

A source close to the transition team confirmed media reports Monday that Trump had settled on the 70 year old Perdue, who served two terms as Georgia governor, from 2003 to 2011.

President-elect Trump has chosen Robert Lighthizer as U.S. Trade Representative, where he'll play a major role in Trump's plan to scrap or renegotiate multilateral trade deals including NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Trump's transition team announced the nomination, saying Lighthizer, who served as deputy USTR under President Reagan, will work closely with Commerce Secretary-designate Wilbur Ross and Peter Navarro, who will head a newly created White House National Trade Council.

Under Reagan, Lighthizer led negotiations of roughly two dozen bilateral international agreements on topics ranging from steel to grain.