Transition of Power
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Trump’s choice for Trade Adviser, Peter Navarro, is known for his strong stance against China and his involvement in the January 6th events that led to his arrest. Navarro’s actions were seen as disruptive to Wall Street but he remained loyal to Trump during his first term in office.
Written by Alan Rappeport
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Many people were surprised by the selection of individuals by President-elect Donald J. Trump for his economic team, as they were seen as a more traditional group. This raised optimism among investors on Wall Street and elsewhere that Trump may not aggressively impose tariffs on both allies and foes.
However, on Wednesday, President Trump emphasized that he still strongly supports tariffs by appointing Peter Navarro, who is known for his tough stance on China and his advocacy for high import taxes, as his senior counselor for trade and manufacturing. In this role, Navarro, who is 75 years old, will have the authority to implement Trump’s protectionist trade policies and will ensure that there is a vocal advocate for tariffs in discussions within the White House.
During his time in Mr. Trump’s first term, Mr. Navarro served as a trade adviser and also took on additional tasks such as combatting the sale of fake goods online and improving the distribution of medical supplies during the pandemic. Despite the high turnover rate in the administration, Mr. Navarro was able to remain in his position and was considered one of Mr. Trump’s most dedicated supporters.
Michael Pillsbury, who served as the president’s top outside adviser on China during his first term, stated that he has observed the president and this individual interact on multiple occasions. He noted that they share a unique personal connection that the president does not have with any of his other advisers.
Peter Navarro, an economist with a Harvard education, previously identified as a Democrat and had an unsuccessful campaign for mayor of San Diego. He also made a speech at the 1996 Democratic National Convention.
After traveling in Asia at the beginning of his career, Mr. Navarro became convinced that China was participating in unfair economic practices. This belief inspired him to write several critical pieces about China, such as The Coming China Wars and Death by China. In 2011, President Trump mentioned Death by China as one of his preferred books on the subject.
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