China “Shocked” By Navarro Appointment, As Trump Team Proposes 10% Import Tariff

China “Shocked” By Navarro Appointment, As Trump Team Proposes 10% Import Tariff:

As the FT first reported yesetrday, in a dramatic development for Sino-US relations, Trump picked Peter Navarro, a Harvard-trained economist and one-time daytrader, to head the National Trade Council, an organization within the White House to oversee industrial policy and promote manufacturing. Navarro, a hardcore China hawk, is the author of books such as “Death by China” and “Crouching Tiger: What China’s Militarism Means for the World” has for years warned that the US is engaged in an economic war with China and should adopt a more aggressive stance, a message that the president-elect sold to voters across the US during his campaign.

In the aftermath of Navarro’s appointment, many were curious to see what China’s reaction would be, and according to the FT, Beijin’s response has been nothing short of “shocked.” To wit:

Read moreChina “Shocked” By Navarro Appointment, As Trump Team Proposes 10% Import Tariff

Trump Appoints “Death By China” Author Peter Navarro To Head Trade Office, Hints At Trade War With Beijing

Trump Appoints “Death By China” Author Peter Navarro To Head Trade Office, Hints At Trade War With Beijing:

Another day, another shot across the bow from Donald Trump aimed squarely at China.

Having already participated (and in the case of one, precipitated) two mini diplomatic snafus with Beijing in just the past two weeks, Trump is sending a clear message to Beijing that US-China trade under his administration will be anything but business as usual, by creating a National Trade Council inside the White House to oversee industrial policy and has decided to appoint a hard core China hawk to run it.

According to the FT, which broke the news, Trump has chosen Peter Navarro, a Harvard-trained economist and one-time daytrader, to head the NTC. The author of books such as “Death by China” and “Crouching Tiger: What China’s Militarism Means for the World” has for years warned that the US is engaged in an economic war with China and should adopt a more aggressive stance — a message that the president-elect sold to voters across the US during his campaign.

Read moreTrump Appoints “Death By China” Author Peter Navarro To Head Trade Office, Hints At Trade War With Beijing