US President-elect Donald Trump said he is nominating former Senator David Perdue as the US ambassador to China, enlisting a former business executive-turned politician for one of his most important diplomatic posts.
“He will be instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain Peace in the region, and a productive working relationship with China’s leaders,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social network on Thursday.
Trump campaigned on adopting a tougher approach to China, including hitting the country with a 60% levy on imports.
Last month, the US president-elect also threatened to hit China with an “additional 10% tariff, above any additional Tariffs” if Beijing did not do more to help stem the flow of fentanyl into the US.
If confirmed by the US Senate, Perdue would have a frontline role in managing relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Before entering politics, Perdue had a lengthy business career, including working with companies with ties to Asia. He served in the US Senate from 2015 to 2021 and ran unsuccessfully for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Georgia in 2022.
