According to the FT, Trump is asking protectionist Lighthizer to become US trade chief

(Reuters) – Robert Lighthizer, a strong supporter of tariffs, has been asked to return to President-elect Donald Trump's administration as U.S. trade representative, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing several people familiar with the transition team discussions .

Lighthizer was a leading figure in Trump's trade war with China and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada during his first term.

After his election victory on Tuesday, Trump is starting to put together his top team. According to the FT, Lighthizer had campaigned for a different role, such as that of trade minister.

The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Thursday, Trump announced that he had named Susie Wiles, one of his two campaign managers, as White House chief of staff.

Trump wants to kick his first term's aggressive trade agenda into high gear with blanket 10% tariffs on imported goods and even higher levies on imports from China and elsewhere. If they were to come into force, they would drive up consumer prices.

China's top envoy to the United States warned Thursday that there are no winners in tariff or trade wars, or wars over science, technology or industry.

(Reporting by Costas Pitas, Steve Holland and Bipasha Dey; Editing by Rami Ayyub)