Washington: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced Peter Navarro as his senior counselor for trade and manufacturing on Wednesday, noting that Navarro helped him renegotiate the South Korea-U.S. free trade deal.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump issued a statement on his decision to pick Navarro, who served as director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy during Trump’s first term. The statement emphasized that Navarro’s mission will be to “help successfully advance and communicate the Trump Manufacturing, Tariff and Trade Agendas.”

During his announcement, Trump highlighted Navarro’s effectiveness in enforcing his key policies, particularly “Buy American, Hire American.” Trump credited Navarro for renegotiating significant trade deals, including NAFTA and the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), and praised his quick action on tariff and trade measures.

Trump further underlined that the senior counselor position takes advantage of Navarro’s extensive White House experi
ence, along with his skills in policy analysis and media communication. “He did a superb job for the American People in my First Term. Peter will do even better as Senior Counselor to protect American Workers, and truly Make American Manufacturing Great Again,” Trump stated.