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Trump selects FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to chair agency

President-elect Trump has tapped Andrew Ferguson to serve as chair of the Federal Trade Commission, the anti-trust agency of which he already serves as a commissioner.Β 

"Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country," Trump said in a Tuesday statement posted to his Truth Social network. "Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History."

"Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History," he added.

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Ferguson is one of two Republican commissioners on the five-member panel chaired by Lina Khan. Ferguson, who also served as the solicitor general of Virginia, was appointed to the commission by President Biden and joined the FTC on April 2.Β 

The FTC is charged with acting as an anti-trust and consumer protection agency.Β 

The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC's antitrust and consumer protection divisions.

Khan became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars' worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior.

Under Khan, the FTC blocked a proposed merger between Korger and Albertsons, two large supermarket chains which forged a $24.6 billion deal in 2022.Β 

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On Tuesday, a judge halted the merger after the FTC filed a lawsuit to block the move, alleging it would lead to high prices and lower wages for workers.Β 

Ferguson's experience could signal continued scrutiny of large tech companies.Β 

In a statement earlier this month, he called for the prosecution of "unlawful collision" between online platforms that could limit "Americans’ ability to exchange ideas freely and openly."

"In particular, we must vigorously enforce the antitrust laws against any platforms found to be unlawfully limiting Americans’ ability to exchange ideas freely and openly," he wrote.Β 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Β 

Trump says Mexico will stop flow of migrants after speaking with Mexican president following tariff threats

President-elect Trump said he spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, saying she has agreed to "stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States" following threats this week to significantly tariff goods from coming into the U.S. from its southern neighbor.Β 

Trump vowed to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada if both nations failed to do more to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the U.S. Sheinbaum, who recently took office, said on Wednesday that Mexico would retaliate if Trump followed through on his promise.Β 

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"If there are U.S. tariffs, Mexico would also raise tariffs," she said during a press conference.Β 

On Wednesday, Trump said he spoke with his Sheinbaum about the matter.Β 

"Just had a wonderful conversation with the new President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo," he wrote on Truth Social. "She has agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border. We also talked about what can be done to stop the massive drug inflow into the United States, and also, U.S. consumption of these drugs. It was a very productive conversation!"

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In a subsequent post, he said that: "Mexico will stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately. THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD STOPPING THE ILLEGAL INVASION OF THE USA. Thank you!!!"

In a post on X, Sheinbaum said she spoke with Trump by phone and that the two discussed "strengthening collaboration on security issues" and that the conversation was "excellent," Reuters reported.Β 

Trump has long complained that Mexico has failed to do enough to stop the flow of migrants and illicit drugs on its side of the southern border. Β 

In a post on X, Sheinbaum said she explained the "comprehensive strategy" Mexico has employed to address the "the migration phenomenon, respecting human rights."

"Thanks to this, migrants and caravans are assisted before they reach the border," she wrote. "We reiterate that Mexico's position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and between peoples."

Trump also threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on China over the massive amounts of fentanyl coming into the U.S. from Mexico.Β 

U.S. officials have frequently said that illicit fentanyl is manufactured in Mexico using Chinese precursors and then smuggled across the border by drug cartels.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and can be fatal in small doses, has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans and is a factor in many drug overdose deaths.Β 

On Wednesday, Trump said he would be working on a large-scale ad campaign explaining the dangers of fentanyl.Β 

"Millions of lives being so needlessly destroyed. By the time the Campaign is over, everyone will know how really bad the horror of this Drug is," he said.

In response to the threat of more tariffs, the China Daily newspaper – which is run by the Chinese Communist Party – published an editorial Tuesday saying, "The excuse the president-elect has given to justify his threat of additional tariffs on imports from China is far-fetched," according to Reuters.

Fox News Digital's Greg Norman contributed to this report.Β Β 

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