Trump picks loyalist Peter Navarro as top trade advisor

New York: US President-elect Donald Trump has named Peter Navarro, a staunch loyalist and outspoken trade hardliner, as his Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing. Navarro, who previously served in Trump’s administration, is known for his aggressive stance on China and commitment to reviving American manufacturing.

Announcing the appointment on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said Navarro was one of the most effective and tenacious members of his first administration in enforcing his "Buy American, Hire American" principles. He added that Navarro would focus on protecting American workers and boosting domestic manufacturing as part of his agenda to make American manufacturing strong again.

Navarro’s appointment follows his recent imprisonment for defying a congressional inquiry into the January 6 Capitol riots. The House Special Committee investigating the riots had subpoenaed him to testify and provide documents. Navarro was convicted of contempt of Congress and served four months in jail for his refusal to comply. Defending him, Trump remarked that Navarro had been treated unfairly by what he described as the "Deep State" or similar forces. The Capitol riots followed Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

Navarro previously served as an Assistant to the President and Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, where he played a significant role in renegotiating trade deals, including replacing NAFTA with the USMCA and revising the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS).

During the Covid pandemic, Navarro led efforts to address global supply chain disruptions, utilizing the Defense Production Act to increase the production of critical medical equipment. He directed automaker GM to manufacture ventilators and helped the U.S. overcome significant hurdles in sourcing essential materials.

A long-time critic of China’s trade practices, Navarro authored the book 'Death by China: Confronting the Dragon – A Global Call to Action'. He strongly advocated for high tariffs to support U.S. manufacturing and was key in implementing Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports during the first administration.

Trump also emphasized Navarro’s extensive expertise in policy analysis and communication, noting that he would be instrumental in advancing and explaining the administration’s trade and manufacturing agenda.

Navarro, who holds a PhD in economics from Harvard and has been a professor in California, joins Jamieson Greer, another trade hardliner recently appointed U.S. International Trade Representative, as part of Trump’s trade policy team.

With IANS inputs