Peter Navarro Is Doubling Down on Tariffs
Peter Navarro Is Doubling Down on Tariffs  
Podcast: The Mishal Husain Show
Published On: Fri Jan 09 2026
Description: US President Donald Trump’s tough talk about China and tariffs can be traced back in large part to economist Peter Navarro. A well-known China hawk, he has written books arguing Beijing poses a threat to the US economy and its national security.Navarro is a loyalist who has served as a key trade adviser in both Trump administrations. In between, he spent four months behind bars for refusing to comply with a Congressional subpoena tied to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.It is Navarro who stands behind Trump’s sweeping tariffs against China and other nations, levies that have in some cases raised prices for US companies and consumers. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, recorded in Bloomberg's Washington studio, Navarro discusses the US relationship with China and an upcoming Supreme Court ruling on the administration’s use of emergency powers to levy tariffs. They also look ahead to this year’s midterm elections and back at the controversial Vanity Fair profile of Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.  00:00 - Introduction from Mishal Husain02:16 - Navarro’s bond with President Trump05:04 - Navarro’s journey from Democrat to MAGA Republican08:01 - Time in Federal prison09:36 - US-China relationship12:21 - Navarro’s advice for Europe13:22 - Trump diplomacy15:35 - Allowing Nvidia to export advanced chips to China17:49 - Delivering for working class Americans20:08 - Rubio-Vance 202821:57 - Addressing affordability concerns23:38 - Manufacturing jobs: “We can’t wave a magic wand”26:45 - Supreme Court ruling30:17 - Cost of tariff refunds31:15 - “It's not a job, it's a mission” Watch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYS You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.