How Trump's Man in Beijing Swung From Trade Globalist to China Hawk

He outsourced manufacturing to Asia during his 40-year business career but later backed tariffs

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BEIJING/WASHINGTON - The new US envoy to China is a former champion of global trade turned China hawk who will emphasize his close ties to President Donald Trump as he seeks to restore crucial lines of communication between Washington and Beijing.

Ambassador David Perdue, a former Republican senator for Georgia, arrived in Beijing on May 15, according to a post on his X account. He replaces career diplomat Nicholas Burns, a pick of former president Joe Biden, who left in January.

Mr. Perdue's arrival will be closely watched after both sides reached an unexpected truce in Geneva last weekend, pausing a trade war between the world's two biggest economies that had stoked fears of a global recession.

"It is an honor to represent President Trump," Mr. Perdue wrote on his X account on May 15, accompanied by a selfie taken outside the embassy building.

"I am ready to get to work here and make America safer, stronger and more prosperous."

Analysts say Mr. Perdue, who was a prominent Senate ally for Mr. Trump in his first term, will use his ties to the President as he seeks to gain credibility with Chinese interlocutors to help push through a trade deal.

"I would describe David Perdue as having one of the closest relationships with the President of any of our ambassadors," Republican Senator Steve Daines told Reuters in an interview.

"President Trump has picked the right man, at the right time, for this most important responsibility."

Mr. Perdue is also tasked with helping to convince Beijing to stop the flow to the US of ingredients used to manufacture the deadly opioid fentanyl, the reason behind 20 percent of Washington's remaining tariffs on China.

Mr. Daines said he and Mr. Perdue have discussed the issue at length, including a proposal offered by Chinese Premier Li Qiang in March during Mr. Daines' visit to Beijing.