washington billionaire investor wilbur ross salvage two north carolina textile mill bankruptcy 2003 2004 one first things head washington immerse trade law policy china accession world trade organization unleash flood textile import across u.s. border ross president-elect donald trump pick commerce secretary take unusual hands-on approach advocate safeguard tariff help ravage domestic industry first outside investor come industry buy major asset first knowledge major outside investor take sort attitude home-grown ceos say auggie tantillo lobby textile makers washington almost 40 years ross history own defend embattle steel textile manufacture company rely border duties protect industries mean bring unique approach commerce secretary job depart traditional role cheerlead free trade big business questionnaire ahead u.s. senate hear review nomination slat thursday ross say own significant stake 100 businesses 55 years forbes estimate fortune 2.9 billion ross yet provide senate financial disclosures ethics agreement prevent conflict interest late tuesday senate commerce committee say would postpone ross hear jan. 18 give time ethics officials work ross one three wealthy trump pick run delay vet process education nominee betsy devos labor pick andrew pudzer also senate hear push back economist call ross mr protectionism term ross tell cnbc saw pejorative inaccurate say threat tariff would use negotiate tool confirm ross 79 personally close trump lead player shape u.s. trade policy work alongside robert lighthizer lawyer know work beleaguer u.s. manufacturers trump tap u.s. trade representative peter navarro economist china hawk serve white house adviser free trade advocate worry trump trade triumvirate quick use tariff keep import raise cost manufacturers rely import part even spark retaliatory trade war three guy put together create lot mischief say dan ikenson longtime trade policy economist cato institute think tank ross respond request comment spokesman trump transition team say ross would draw experience save create manufacture job confirm would push expand export reduce import ross work ally labor unions industry group hurt import push tariff quotas even start coalition 2003. although coalition short-lived ross trade rhetoric trade deficit currency manipulation remain consistent echo campaign trail trump ross call 20-year-old north american free trade agreement mexico canada poster child unbalance trade investment letter wall street journal accuse mexico import auto part china vehicles ship duty-free unite state company also produce goods mexico 2007 annual report international textile group call nafta advantageous company factories ross support central america free trade agreement say believe fix saw loopholes nafta ross draw unusual endorsement unite steelworkers union back trump democratic opponent hillary clinton election leo gerard president usw say interview last month trump team understand trade remedy laws need modernize make easy impose sanction duties industries hurt job lose lot suggestions new trade team gerard tell reuters trump 's commerce pick wilbur ross strange protectionism