On Friday 4 April I had a quiet little mumble about just how quickly the President of the United States ‘Tariff Wars’ had directly affected myself (and, by implication all normal citizens heel bent on creating wealth for their ‘golden years’) in this piece: Are eDon Aware of the Nuances of the US Tariff Crusade?.
Two more ‘shattering events’ have now led to this piece you are struggling through today:
- Our Google Adsense (advertising) turnover is DOWN by 36% on April 2024
- Another FACE has joined the dartboard of complicity in Peter Navarro as ‘revealed’ by Rachel Maddow of MSNBC
Video – Rachel Maddow Explains the ‘Ridiculous’ True Story That Inspired Trump’s Tariffs Plan:
Peter Navarro has held significant positions within the Trump Administration, primarily focusing on trade policy.
Peter Navarro’s roles have included:
Director of the National Trade Council: Navarro was appointed as the first director of this council in December 2016. In this role, he was instrumental in shaping the administration’s trade policies, advocating for protectionist measures and a more confrontational stance towards China.
Trade Advisor: Throughout Trump’s presidency, Navarro served as a key trade advisor, promoting tariffs and other trade barriers aimed at reducing the trade deficit with China and protecting American industries.
Senior Administration Official: He was a prominent figure in the administration, often appearing in media to defend Trump’s trade policies and articulate the administration’s economic strategies.
Return to the White House: Recently, it was reported that Navarro has been brought back to the White House for Trump’s second administration, indicating his continued influence in shaping trade policy.
Navarro’s advocacy for tariffs and his critical stance on China have made him a notable figure in discussions about U.S. trade policy.
According to Maddow the initial fallout from the ‘Tariff Wars’ led to a $6 Trillion DROP in the values of shares on the NASDAQ.
Navarro’s “Death by China” book provided a strong ideological justification for a dramatic shift in U.S. trade policy. It painted a dire picture of the economic threats posed by China, arguing that Chinese imports were detrimental to American jobs and industries. This narrative resonated with Trump’s “America First” agenda.
The book features a fictional character named Ron Vara, who serves as a mouthpiece for Navarro’s views on trade. This character was used to present alarming statistics and warnings about the consequences of Chinese trade practices. Interestingly, it was later revealed that this character was a fictional construct, which raised questions about the credibility of some of Navarro’s arguments.
Navarro’s ideas were reportedly instrumental in shaping Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese goods. The book’s emphasis on the need to confront China directly aligned with Trump’s aggressive trade policies, which included tariffs aimed at reducing the trade deficit and protecting American industries.
Even after the tariffs were implemented, Navarro continued to advocate for punitive measures against China, reflecting the ongoing influence of his book on U.S. trade policy. His role as a senior adviser to Trump allowed him to push these ideas into the administration’s broader economic strategy.
Jared Kushner played a pivotal role in introducing Donald Trump to Peter Navarro, which significantly influenced Trump’s trade policies.
Here’s how it unfolded:
Kushner, who was serving as a senior adviser and Trump’s son-in-law, was tasked by Trump to conduct research on China. This was part of a broader effort to understand the economic challenges posed by the country.
During his research, Kushner turned to Amazon to find relevant literature on the subject. It was here that he came across Peter Navarro’s book, “Death by China,” which outlined the economic threats posed by China to the U.S.
Impressed by Navarro’s insights and the urgency of his arguments, Kushner recommended him to Trump. This led to Navarro being invited to join Trump’s advisory team, where he became a key figure in shaping the administration’s trade policies.
Who is Ron Vara?
Ron Vara is actually a fictional character created by Peter Navarro for his book “Death by China.”
Navarro uses Ron Vara as a sort of narrator, presenting the book’s arguments and warnings about the dangers of Chinese trade practices. He’s a fictionalized version of a real-life American worker who has been negatively impacted by Chinese competition.
The use of this fictional character was controversial, with some critics arguing that it undermined the book’s credibility and gave the impression that Navarro was using a fictional narrative to push a political agenda.
In 2019 Ron Vara was ‘ourted’ as a fictional character (in a book of non-fiction) having appeared in half a dozen of Navarro’s books, dating to 2001.
Navarro, who directed the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy at the time, defended the fabrication as a “whimsical device.”
Vara is described in one of the books as a doctoral student at Harvard — as Navarro himself had been — BUT the school had no record of Vara.
Maybe Navarro got the idea from hi boss, Donald Trump who famously invented his own fictional spokesman, John Barron, in the 1980s. Perhaps Barron could offer some PR advice to the unmasked Vara?
Did Ron Vara send e-mails to the Whitehouse?
During 2019 with only a few days left for the U.S. to decide whether to slap more tariffs on Chinese imports, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro weighed in — under the pseudonym “Ron Vara,” according to a memo he penned that CNBC obtained.
Navarro confirmed to The New York Times that he wrote the memo, which is circulating around Washington. The Times first reported the memo earlier Wednesday.
In the memo, sent from an email belonging to Ron Vara — an anagram of Navarro — President Donald Trump’s trade advisor considers the “Keep Tariffs Argument.”
Video – White House Sr. Trade Counselor Peter Navarro: Tariffs are not negotiable:
Here is a list all books published by Peter Navarro in date order:
- 1996: Bill Clinton’s Agenda for America: Will It Make You Rich or Poor – Navarro analyzes the economic policies of the Clinton administration, assessing their potential impact on American prosperity and the middle class.
- 1996: Job Opportunities Under Clinton/Gore – This book explores job creation and economic opportunities during the Clinton administration, providing insights into the labor market and policy implications.
- 1999: The Dimming of America: The Real Costs of Electric Utility Regulatory Failure – This book discusses the failures of electric utility regulation in the U.S., highlighting the economic and environmental costs associated with these failures and advocating for reform.
- 1999: The Money Game: Understanding the Principles of Economics – This book introduces fundamental economic principles, making them accessible to a general audience and providing insights into how economic systems operate.
- 2000: Big Picture Investing: How, When, and Why the Stock Market Moves – Navarro discusses investment strategies and market analysis, helping readers understand the factors that influence stock market movements and how to make informed investment decisions.
- 2001: The Well Timed Strategy: Managing the Business Cycle for Competitive Advantage – This book offers strategies for businesses to align their operations with economic cycles, helping them to capitalize on opportunities and mitigate risks during different phases of the business cycle.
- 2002: Always a Winner: Finding Your Competitive Advantage in an Up and Down Economy – This book provides insights on how businesses can maintain a competitive edge during economic fluctuations, emphasizing adaptability and strategic planning.
- 2003: When the Market Moves, Will You Be Ready? – Navarro discusses market volatility and the importance of being prepared for economic shifts, offering strategies for investors to navigate changing market conditions effectively.
- 2004: If It’s Raining in Brazil, Buy Starbucks – Navarro explores the relationship between global economic trends and investment strategies, using the metaphor of weather patterns to illustrate market movements and opportunities.
- 2005: What the Best MBAs Know – This book distills key insights and strategies from top MBA programs, focusing on practical knowledge that can be applied in the business world to achieve success.
- 2005: Big Picture MBA: What Every Business School Graduate Knows – Navarro distills essential business concepts and strategies that every MBA graduate should understand, focusing on practical applications in the business world.
- 2006: The Coming China Wars: Where They Will Be Fought and How They Can Be Won – Navarro discusses potential conflicts between the U.S. and China over resources, jobs, and economic dominance, urging policymakers to prepare for these challenges and adopt strategies to protect American interests.
- 2008: San Diego Confidential – This book offers a behind-the-scenes look at the political and economic landscape of San Diego, providing insights into local governance and business dynamics.
- 2009: Seeds of Destruction: Why the Path to Economic Ruin Runs Through Washington, and How to Reclaim American Prosperity – Navarro critiques government policies that he believes contribute to economic decline, advocating for reforms to restore American prosperity and competitiveness.
- 2010: The Policy Game: How Special Interests and Ideologues Are Stealing America – Navarro examines the influence of special interest groups on American politics, arguing that they undermine democratic processes and proposing ways to reclaim political integrity.
- 2011: Death by China: Confronting the Dragon – A Global Call to Action – Navarro argues that China’s trade practices threaten the U.S. economy and jobs, calling for a more aggressive trade policy to confront these dangers, combining economic analysis with personal anecdotes.
- 2012: Manufacturing a Better Future for America – Navarro advocates for revitalizing American manufacturing, arguing that it is essential for economic growth and national security, and outlines strategies for achieving this goal.
- 2015: Crouching Tiger: What China’s Militarism Means for the World – This book examines China’s military expansion and its implications for global security, warning that China’s growing power could lead to significant geopolitical conflicts.
- 2021: In Trump Time: A Journal of America’s Plague Year – This memoir provides an insider’s perspective on the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, detailing challenges faced and decisions made, while critiquing media and political opposition.
- 2022: Taking Back Trump’s America: Why We Lost the White House and How We’ll Win It Back – This book reflects on the 2020 presidential election, analyzing the reasons behind Trump’s defeat and proposing strategies for regaining power in future elections, emphasizing grassroots movements and core principles of the Trump administration.
