• US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed David Perdue as US ambassador to China.
• Perdue, a former senator and business executive, has extensive experience in Asia.
• Trump’s nomination comes against the backdrop of trade tensions with China. He has threatened increased tariffs on Chinese goods.

US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed former Senator David Perdue as US ambassador to China.

Before entering politics, Perdue was a business executive and lived in Singapore and Hong Kong.

“He will be instrumental in executing my strategy to maintain peace in the region and a productive working relationship with China’s leaders,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Emphasis Perdue’s. experience with Asia and China and called him a “loyal supporter and friend.”

Perdue said he was “truly honored” to accept Trump’s nomination.

“Having lived in Asia twice, I understand the gravity of this responsibility and look forward to implementing President Trump’s strategy to make the world safe again and advance United States interests in China,” Perdue wrote on X.

Trump’s appointment of Perdue as ambassador to China comes at a time of tension between the world’s two largest economies.

Trump, who takes office on January 20, has threatened 60% tariffs on all Chinese imports into the US during the campaign. Last month, Trump said he planned to impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods because of China’s role in the fentanyl trade.

Business and golf with Trump

Perdue served as a senator for Georgia from 2015 to 2021, and during that time he was the only former Fortune 500 CEO to serve in the Senate.

Like Trump, the Georgia native entered politics after decades in the business world. Perdue is also an avid golfer, which has helped him bond with Trump.

Perdue said Trump called him often and at any time to strategize or brainstorm policy ideas.

“As businessmen, we have something in common,” Perdue told Business Insider in 2018. “Firstly, we just want results. He is not an ideologue. He hasn’t been up here in the Washington bubble for all these years.” He’s waging these partisan wars. He just wants to get results.

Perdue lost the January 2021 Senate runoff election to Democrat Jon Ossoff.

Although Trump chose Perdue based on his experience in Asia, the same experience has also come under scrutiny in the past because it involved outsourcing.

“Yes, I’ve spent most of my career doing this,” Perdue said in a July 2005 deposition during a corporate lawsuit, referring to his experience with outsourcing, in a 2014 Politico report.

During his term as a senator, the Justice Department investigated him for insider trading, but no charges were filed.

Extensive business and retail experience

Perdue attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in 1972.

He also holds a master’s degree in Operations Research from the same university.

Perdue began his career at Kurt Salmon Associates, a consulting firm.

He then held several positions before his foray into Asia.

From 1991 to 1992, Perdue worked for the international clothing company Gitano in Singapore and then for Sara Lee in Hong Kong.

Following these stints, Perdue held a number of high-level positions, including at Dallas-based Haggar Clothing, where he served as senior vice president of operations, and at Reebok, where he served as SVP of footwear. In 2001 he was CEO of Rebook.

In 2003, Perdue moved to Dollar General, where he became CEO. Perdue was the first person outside the Turner family to run the discount chain.

Perdue expanded Dollar General, adding over 2,000 stores to the chain. In 2007 it was acquired by private equity firm KKR.

In 2014, Perdue launched his bid for Georgia’s open Senate seat.

After losing the 2021 Senate runoff, Perdue focused on the Georgia gubernatorial race.

In 2022, Perdue lost the GOP gubernatorial primary to Brian Kemp.