On April 29, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order creating the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy (OTMP) within the White House. Peter Navarro, who was previously named to head the White House’s National Trade Council which was never formally established, will lead the office.
OTMP’s stated mission is “to defend and serve American workers and domestic manufacturers while advising the President on policies to increase economic growth, decrease the trade deficit, and strengthen the United States manufacturing and defense industrial bases.” It will serve as a liaison between the White House and the Department of Commerce and undertake trade-related special projects as requested by the president.