White House delayed Ukraine trade decision in August, a signal that U.S. suspension of cooperation extended beyond security funds

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October 24, 2019 at 4:19 p.m. EDT

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, left, national security adviser John Bolton, and White House press secretary Sarah Sanders wait for the start of a news conference with President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in May in Tokyo. (Evan Vucci/AP)

The White House’s trade representative in late August withdrew a recommendation to restore some of Ukraine’s trade privileges after John Bolton, then-national security adviser, warned him that President Trump probably would oppose any action that benefited the government in Kyiv, according to people briefed on the matter.

The warning to Robert E. Lighthizer came as Trump was withholding $391 million in military aid and security assistance from Ukraine. House Democrats have launched an impeachment inquiry into allegations that the president did so to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the business activities of former vice president Joe Biden’s son Hunter. As part of the inquiry, lawmakers are closely scrutinizing the White House’s actions between July and September.