Who Is Peter Navarro, Trump’s Pick for Trade Adviser?

The cast of people that President-elect Donald J. Trump selected to fill out his economic team in recent weeks was viewed by many as a surprisingly conventional group, raising hope on Wall Street and beyond that Mr. Trump might not actually bludgeon allies and adversaries alike with tariffs.

But on Wednesday, Mr. Trump made clear that he remains a “Tariff Man” at heart when he tapped Peter Navarro, a China hawk and ardent proponent of steep import duties, to be his senior counselor for trade and manufacturing. The role will give Mr. Navarro, 75, a broad mandate to enact Mr. Trump’s protectionist trade agenda and will ensure that there is a strong voice making the case for tariffs in White House policy debates.

Mr. Navarro was a trade adviser during Mr. Trump’s first term, but he also assumed other responsibilities that included efforts cracking down on counterfeit goods being sold online and streamlining distribution of health equipment during the pandemic. In an administration that was notable for its turnover, Mr. Navarro proved to be a survivor and one of Mr. Trump’s most loyal aides.

“I’ve seen him interact with the president many times, and they have a personal chemistry that none of Trump’s other advisers have,” said Michael Pillsbury, who was the president’s top outside adviser on China during his first term.

Trump’s “Tough Guy” on China

A Harvard-trained economist, Mr. Navarro was once a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully to be mayor of San Diego and spoke at the 1996 Democratic National Convention.

Mr. Navarro’s travels in Asia early in his career convinced him that China was engaging in predatory economic practices and led to him publishing a series of anti-China screeds, including The Coming China Wars and Death by China, which Mr. Trump listed in 2011 as one of his favorite books about China.