Staff USTR/Commerce/NEC/Defense for fair-trade and Section 232 alignment
Navarro argues personnel is trade policy: appoint a Lighthizer-style USTR committed to fair/reciprocal trade, an International Trade Under Secretary aggressive on AD/CVD, align NSA/CEA/NEC on that agenda, and ensure Defense signs off on Section 232 cases treating economic security as national security.
Mandate
Mandate Ch. 26 (Trade) — The Case for Fair Trade (Navarro), Personnel Is Trade Policy: fill USTR with someone committed to fair, balanced, reciprocal trade (citing Lighthizer model); wisely fill Commerce Under Secretary for International Trade for AD/CVD enforcement; align National Security Adviser, CEA Chair, and NEC Director on trade; ensure Defense Secretary understands economic security is national security and cooperates on Section 232 cases.
Undo plan
1) Nominate USTR/Commerce trade officials who prioritize rules-based liberalization and ally coordination over deficit-targeting reciprocity.
2) Restore interagency Section 232 process requiring rigorous DoD national-security findings, not automatic Commerce–Defense alignment for industrial protection.
3) Separate NEC/CEA economic analysis from political fair-trade dogma; publish dissent channels.
4) Codify that Section 232 may not be used against allies absent genuine military-supply risk.
5) Verify: published 232 reports; AD/CVD caseload quality audits.