Trump Appoints Loyalist and Trade Advocate Peter Navarro as Senior Advisor

New York, Dec 5 (NationPress) US President-Elect Donald Trump has appointed Peter Navarro as his principal advisor on trade. Navarro, who previously defied a Democratic-controlled Congress, opted for imprisonment rather than comply with its investigation into the riots that occurred at the Capitol.

On Truth Social Wednesday, Trump stated that during his first term, "few were as effective or determined as Peter in upholding my two fundamental principles: Buy American, Hire American."

As the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, Navarro's responsibilities will include efforts to "safeguard American workers and genuinely revitalize American manufacturing."

Regarding his incarceration, Trump remarked that Navarro "was dealt with atrociously by the Deep State, or whatever term you prefer to use."

The House of Representatives Special Committee that examined the January 6 riots had summoned him to appear and submit documents.

Navarro was found guilty of contempt of Congress and spent four months behind bars for his refusal to cooperate.

The riots followed a rally where Trump had proclaimed his victory in the 2020 election, asserting that the election had been stolen.

Navarro's appointment comes alongside another hardliner, Jamieson Greer, who was designated as the US International Trade Representative (USITR) by Trump.

Trump acknowledged that Greer played a significant role "in imposing tariffs on China and other nations to tackle unfair trade practices" during his initial term.

Navarro is known for his tough stance on China and has authored a book titled, 'Death by China: Confronting the Dragon - A Global Call to Action', which warns about Beijing's ambitions for global supremacy through exploitative trade methods.

An advocate for elevated tariffs to revive American manufacturing, which has suffered due to imports, particularly from China, Navarro supported Trump in increasing tariffs on numerous Chinese goods.

He distinguished himself during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he raised alarms and assisted the US in overcoming global supply chain challenges.

Navarro was among the first senior officials to issue warnings regarding COVID-19, cautioning in a January 2021 memo that it "would leave Americans vulnerable in the event of a full-blown coronavirus outbreak on US territory" and could result in trillions of dollars in losses.

He made a significant impact when Trump appointed him to leverage the Defense Production Act to enhance the production of necessary materials to combat the pandemic, notably compelling GM to manufacture ventilators for patients.

During his tenure as an Assistant to the President and Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, Trump stated, "he assisted me in renegotiating unjust Trade Deals like NAFTA and the Korea-UD Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), and expedited all of my Tariff and Trade initiatives."

Trump dismantled the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada, replacing it with a new deal he viewed as more beneficial for the US.

He also renegotiated the agreement with South Korea.

With a PhD in economics from Harvard and experience as a professor at a California university, Navarro is known for his articulate communication. Trump noted his extensive policy analysis and media skills, stating that "his mission will be to effectively promote and articulate the Trump Manufacturing, Tariff, and Trade agendas."

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in)