The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trumpannounced the appointment of former Republican senator from Georgia, David Perdueas the next ambassador of United States in Chinaone of the country’s main trading partners.
In a statement issued Thursday night, Trump highlighted Perdue’s career as an executive of international companies.
“David brings valuable experience to help strengthen our relationship with China. He has lived in Singapore and Hong Kong, and worked extensively in Asia and China throughout his career.“, stated the Republican leader in his platform Truth Social.
David Perdueformer senator from Georgia, has a 40-year career in international business, including his time as CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
In the Senate, he served on committees Foreign Relations and Armed Serviceschairing the Naval Power Subcommittee, which gave him a prominent profile in defense and diplomacy matters.
Trump stressed that Perdue will be “instrumental” in implementing his strategy to maintain peace in the Asian region and ensure a productive relationship with Chinese leaders. “David has been a loyal ally and friend, and I look forward to working with him in his new role.”Trump concluded in his writing.
Perdue’s appointment comes amid growing trade tensions between the United States and China, following the Republican magnate’s statements about his intention to revive a strategy from his first term, which includes the threat of imposing an additional 10% tariff on all imports from China.
The measure seeks to pressure Beijing to increase its cooperation in the fight against trafficking of fentanyl, a synthetic drug that has caused a crisis in the United States.
According to The Wall Street Journalthis tactic could jeopardize trade relations between the world’s two largest economies, in addition to complicating diplomatic efforts that have proven productive in counternarcotics cooperation.
Recently, anti-drug officials from United States, Mexico and China they met in Shanghai to address the flow of fentanyl and the financing of drug trafficking.
This meeting was considered a significant advancegiven that China had shown resistance to collaborating in the past. However, threats of tariffs could jeopardize this progress.
Analysts suggest that the Chinese president, Xi Jinpingcould choose not to give in to American demands to avoid being perceived as weak internationally.
US authorities consider China to be the main supplier of chemical precursors used in the manufacture of fentanyl, which are then sent to Mexican cartels.
Despite a slight recent decline in overdose deaths, the numbers remain alarming, keeping the fentanyl crisis at the center of political debate.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China expressed his willingness to continue working with the United States in the fight against drug trafficking, although he did not confirm direct contact with Trump’s team.
During Trump’s first term, trade negotiations led China to tighten regulation of the production and sale of fentanyl, which significantly reduced its presence in the illicit market. However, the production of chemical precursors by Chinese companies persists, which keeps the crisis in force.
(With information from AFP)
