Trump on economy: ‘Buy American, hire American’

That’s about to change as Gov. Terry Branstad has accepted President-elect Donald Trump’s offer to become USA ambassador to China – subject to Senate confirmation – giving Reynolds the opportunity to set priorities for the state as governor. That makes him one of the nation’s longest-serving governors.

“They are obviously in the process of looking at the relations to some of the key countries and governments around the world”, deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said. During the campaign Trump criticized the multinational trade pact to undercut Chinese influence, but it has support of congressional Republicans and the Obama administration.

Siva Yam, president of the US-China Chamber of Commerce said Terry Branstad is an excellent choice.

“She’s pretty much been in his (Branstad’s) camp on most policy decisions that I know of”, said Kearns.

“He is careful about not assuming anything”, Branstad said after Xi’s visit to Iowa. Branstad is Iowa’s longest-serving governor.

Iowa is a major exporter of farm products to China.

The likely departure of the nation’s longest-serving governor to become US ambassador to China means Iowa could soon be led by its first female governor, just as the state shifts to full Republican control of its Legislature. “China is not a market economy”, he said.

Branstad, who is the longest serving governor in United States history but has never sought higher office, also spoke about his friend’s high-flying career path. At a rally in Sioux City two days before the election, Donald Trump hinted at a position for Branstad in his administration.

The mission members were actually in China during the recent US election.

Earlier, in the Iowa capital of Des Moines, a Branstad spokesman, Ben Hammes, said the reports of his nomination were “premature and not accurate”.

Branstad has made seven visits to China, the most recent a week after the election when he met with the agricultural minister in Hebei. “But it takes a lot of determination and hard work to make trade gains with China”.

Branstad’s nomination, if confirmed, “will be a positive move made by Trump toward a healthy and stable relationship between Beijing and Washington”, it added.

“I don’t know whether it will fully offset it, but clearly this appointment will be welcomed in China”, said Edward Alden, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign relations who specializes in USA economic competitiveness and trade policy.

Iowa Governor Branstad has formally accepted President-Elect Donald Trump’s nomination Wednesday, just one day after the two met in NY.

Mr Branstad has no direct experience in diplomacy, but that is not unusual among American ambassadors many of whom are appointed to reward their loyalty (and financial backing) of the president.

A number of high-stakes diplomatic challenges in the U.S. He stayed with Branstad in 2012 at the governor’s mansion when he revisited Muscatine as Chinese vice-president in the lead-up to his installation as president in 2013.

“We’re going to have to review this and confer with the governor’s office”, Greenwood said.

In a brief interview, Reynolds said serving as Branstad’s lieutenant has prepared her.

Trump’s stance on China has been in particular focus since Friday’s call with Tsai, the first such top-level contact with Taiwan by a US president-elect or president since President Jimmy Carter adopted a “one-China” policy in 1979, recognizing only the Beijing government.