Free to Read: Trump Names ‘Loyal Supporter’ David Perdue as Ambassador to China

Veteran businessman with close ties to Asia wins critical diplomatic role in Trump’s administration

David Perdue

Donald Trump, the U.S. President-elect, has appointed former Georgia Senator David Perdue as ambassador to China, tapping the veteran businessman for one of the incoming administration’s most critical diplomatic roles.

Referring to Perdue as “a loyal supporter and friend,” Trump said the former business executive will be “instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain peace in the region, and a productive working relationship with China’s leaders.”

Writing on his Truth Social network on Thursday, Trump highlighted Perdue’s business background and experiences in Asia. “David brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China. He has lived in Singapore and Hong Kong, and worked in Asia and China for much of his career,” Trump wrote.

The nomination, which requires Senate confirmation, comes amid expectations of escalating clashes between the world’s two largest economies once Trump takes office.

Perdue will replace the outgoing career diplomat Nicholas Burns as the U.S. ambassador to China, taking on the challenging task of mending the increasingly strained bilateral relationship.

Trump, who will take office in January, launched a trade war with China during his first term and has promised to impose tariffs of 60% or higher on all Chinese goods in his second term. Last week, he threatened an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports unless Beijing takes stronger action to curb the international flow of precursor chemicals for fentanyl.

The president-elect’s cabinet choices feature China hawks, with Florida Senator Marco Rubio nominated as secretary of state, and Mike Waltz as the national security adviser. Earlier this week, Trump named Peter Navarro, a staunch critic of China, to serve as senior counselor for trade and manufacturing.

Perdue, 74, was a member of the Senate from 2015 to 2021, taking a tough stance on China.

Before moving to politics, Perdue gained 40 years of experience in business, holding top management positions, including president and chief executive of sportswear brand Reebok, discount store chain Dollar General and the textile company PillowTex. Throughout his career, he led corporate restructuring and global expansions, helping American companies source low-cost labor in Asian markets.

When Perdue entered politics in 2014, he faced criticism for having moved production overseas but defended his actions, saying he was “proud” to have found lower-cost labor.

“This is part of American business, and part of any business,” Perdue said at the time.

In 2018, Perdue said in a Fox News commentary written with other senators after a trip to China that the U.S. needed to “wake up and do a better job competing with China.”

The senators wrote: “America’s outdated view of China could result in lost opportunities, or even worse, dangerous miscalculations or complacency. We must have a long-term plan to compete and deal with China’s rising economic and geopolitical influence.”

Perdue’s position on America’s tariff policy on China, has shifted considerably over the past few years. In 2018, he expressed concerns about Trump’s broad tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum, calling for more “targeted” measures. “The president's instincts are right that we need access in these markets,” he said at the time. “But (tariffs) need to be very targeted.”　

In 2019, he emphasized the importance of “equal market access” but expressed stronger support for imposing tariffs. He told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a Georgia newspaper, that tariffs "creating the opportunity" for negotiations with China. “For the first time in five decades, we are standing up to the Chinese and other trading partners around the world, and all we want is equal access and a level playing field.”

Perdue supported Trump’s tough stance on China, pressing for measures to halt forced technology transfers in China-U.S. joint ventures, ensuring compliance with WTO rules, the ending of cyberattacks and guaranteed equal market access.

He also called for a new approach to U.S.-China engagement, warning against a new cold war. Speaking at a 2019 seminar in Washington, Perdue argued that “decoupling” from China would be a “huge mistake,” and that allowing relations to deteriorate into a cold war was untenable.

Perdue also said that the U.S. and China not only have opportunities for cooperation on counterterrorism and refugee issues but must cooperate on these matters.