Donald Trump has named former White House official Peter Navarro as his “Senior Advisor on Trade and Manufacturing.” the president-elect announced on Truth Social Wednesday.
Navarro, who served as assistant to the president and director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy in the first Trump administration, it will play a decisive role in defining the next US trade agenda.
“The Senior Advisor position leverages Peter’s broad range of experience in the White House, while leveraging his extensive political and media analysis skills,” Trump he wrote in his announcement. “His mission will be to help advance and successfully communicate Trump’s agendas on manufacturing, tariffs and trade.”
It’s unclear whether Navarro’s job will be a Cabinet-level position, or how he will interact with the office of the U.S. Trade Representative or the Department of Commerce, both of which Trump says will guide his trade policy and tariff.
Trump has appointed a lawyer specializing in international trade Jamieson Greer as your candidate for USTRand Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald head the Department of Commerce.
Navarro took part in trade talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement during Trump’s first term. The US-Korea trade agreement, renegotiated in March 2018exempted South Korea from tariffs imposed earlier that month in exchange for the country limiting steel imports to the United States.
“This will be as effective as the tariff and will preserve the integrity of the steel industry,” Navarro said in a Interview with National Public Radio at the moment. «So let’s not talk about exemptions, about letting anyone out. Everyone understands as they negotiate with the United States that if they are left out of the tariffs, they will have a quota or some other similar restriction.”
Trump continues to make increased tariffs and an aggressive trade policy central to his next agenda. Monday on The president-elect threatened 100% tariffs. on BRICS countries, including Russia and China, if the informal contingent moves away from the US dollar.
The threat followed recent promises by a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexicothe United States’ largest trading partner, and a further 10% tariff increase on imports from China.
Navarro will take on the role following a recent stint in prison. In March, the Trump loyalist began serving a four month prison sentence for a contempt of Congressional condemnation. He was released in July.
The conviction resulted from Navarro’s failure to comply with a subpoena from the U.S. House Select Committee regarding its investigation into the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Navarro was the first Trump official to serve a prison sentence for a crime related to the attack.