WASHINGTON—Howard Lutnick’s journey from Wall Street veteran to one of President Trump’s most hawkish trade advisers began with a speech at an October campaign rally at Madison Square Garden. Lutnick extolled the virtues of tariffs and argued that the duties could at least in part replace the U.

President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Commerce Department, Howard Lutnick, told senators the argument that tariffs cause inflation is "nonsense" during a confirmation hearing.

President Donald Trump's nominee to run the Commerce Department, Howard Lutnick, said on Wednesday that he has advised Trump to impose across-the-board tariffs country-by-country to restore trade reciprocity and fairness.