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‘America First’: Trump Aims To Dismantle Globalist Trade Policies

President Donald Trump announced his trade policy goals this week, highlighting plans to strengthen “our economy, American workers, and national security” during his second term.

Just hours after taking the oath of office on Monday, President Trump introduced a myriad of far-reaching executive actions, including the presidential election. memo He outlined his vision for an “America First” trade policy. According to the memo, the president's policies aim to reduce America's “dependence on other countries,” promote “investment and productivity,” and protect America's “economic and national security.”

“Americans benefit from and deserve America First trade policy.” Trump wrote. “Therefore, I am establishing a strong and revitalized trade policy that fosters investment and productivity, enhances our industrial and technological advantage, and protects our economy and national security. Above all — Benefiting America's workers, manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, and businesses.(Related: Exclusive: Documents and recordings reveal how TikTok forced staff to take an oath to protect China's 'socialist system')

The president's trade policy requires federal agencies to submit a variety of reports and reports on matters such as examining “unfair trade practices” from foreign countries, the reciprocity of existing trade agreements, and the “economic and national security impacts.” Requires recommendations to be submitted to the President by April 1, 2025. The memorandum says this stems from the current trade deficit.

“If you look at President Trump's first term, he's not a believer in protectionist trade policies or free trade policies,” Andrew Hale, senior policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. ” he said. “He's a guy who looks at the big picture and makes deals. He wants the best deal for America, and he specifically wants to make American manufacturing great again.”

(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

US trade deficit is steadily increasing rising For decades, reach 773.4 billion dollars in 2023—including deficit with China grew up In the same year, it increased to approximately $279.4 billion. The US trade deficit with China in 2022 is $382.3 billionan 8.3% increase compared to 2021, when former President Joe Biden took office. Recently, China's trade surplus increased to a record high of $104.84 billion in December 2024, reaching nearly $1 trillion for the year.

President Trump's plan goes beyond addressing the trade deficit and also includes re-exporting critical U.S. manufacturing domestically, with the memorandum stating that the first administration “recognized trade policy as a key component of national security.” “I was handling it,” he said.

Hale similarly warned that U.S. manufacturing outsourcing to foreign countries such as China remains a potential hurdle, and emphasized the need to bring U.S. manufacturing “nearshore and friendshore.”

Despite growing national security concerns in recent years as China's growing global influence continues to outsourcing It brings jobs and manufacturing to the country. The trade deficit with China has cost the United States 3.82 million jobs since 2001, 2.89 million of which were lost in manufacturing. According to Based on a May 2023 report from the Coalition for a Prosperous America.

US heavily dependent on Regarding the import of various goods from China, including the import of lithium batteries, computers, smartphones and other products. pharmaceuticals. According to one report, in 2023, China accounted for 4.6% ($46.7 billion) of US services exports and 2.7% ($20.1 billion) of US services imports. report According to the Congressional Research Service, published in December 2024.

“We have a lot [the U.S.] There are things we can do to encourage nearshoring, friend-shoring, and sourcing intermediate goods from allies and friends,” Hale told DCNF. “We shouldn't have free trade with foreign adversaries, with non-market economies, with authoritarian states like China. That's a recipe for disaster.”

Republican Missouri Rep. Jason Smith, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said: statement On Tuesday, he praised President Trump's “America First” trade policy, saying, “It was clear that the American people voted for President Trump, and he is now demanding better treatment for American workers and businesses. I didn't waste any time.” Smith also praised President Trump's “willingness to hold China accountable and consider every possible avenue to curb China's ability to 'undermine' the US economy.”

“For too long, other countries have freely imposed unreasonable tariffs, taxes and non-tariff barriers on U.S. exports and businesses,” Smith said in a statement. “The success of existing tariff policies and the need for them, such as those established during President Trump's first administration, strengthen our nation's competitiveness and require more reciprocal access to foreign markets for U.S. products; It provides valuable lessons on how trade policy can be strategically developed to protect our nation's security. ” (Related: Liberals sue Trump over immigration within hours of taking office)

Ahead of his return to the Oval Office, President Trump pledged on Inauguration Day to impose sweeping tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico, accusing them of allowing fentanyl and illegal immigration to enter the United States. . blackmailed The president's memo builds on previous statements by asking the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security to recommend “appropriate trade and national security measures” to address “illegal immigration and immigration issues.” There is. Fentanyl flows in from Canada and Mexico [People’s Republic of China]”

During his first term as president, Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports, sparking a contentious trade war between the two countries in 2018.

Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, have repeatedly warned the United States against reigniting the trade war. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said On Tuesday, he said there would be “no winners” in the new trade dispute between the US and China.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

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