Trump chooses hard-line ally as Commerce Secretary

(Dan Tri) - President-elect Donald Trump nominated Mr. Howard Lutnick, co-chairman of his transition team, as Secretary of Commerce on November 19.

Mr. Howard Lutnick was chosen by President-elect Donald Trump as Secretary of Commerce (Photo: Reuters).

President-elect Trump said Lutnick would also lead the US tariff and trade agenda, with “direct responsibility for the Office of the US Trade Representative”. Tariffs are a key part of President-elect Trump’s economic agenda, and he has pledged to impose comprehensive tariffs on all imports when he returns to the White House. Lutnick, the chief executive of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald and an ally of Trump, was initially considered a leading candidate for US Treasury secretary. But he was later chosen to head the Commerce Department, the agency responsible for promoting US industry, which has a key role in the Trump administration’s policy of strengthening the US semiconductor industry and reducing its dependence on Asia. Lutnick’s selection as Commerce secretary is seen as a move to demonstrate the Trump administration’s tougher stance on China. Under President Joe Biden, the Commerce Department has increased export controls on critical technologies like quantum computing and semiconductor manufacturing goods, targeting U.S. rivals like China. The Trump administration could toughen that stance. During the presidential campaign, Lutnick expressed support for a 60% tariff on Chinese goods, along with a 10% tariff on all imports.

According to Reuters/Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/ong-trump-chon-dong-minh-co-lap-truong-cung-ran-lam-bo-truong-thuong-mai-20241120063902183.htm