Trump to Review all Trade Deals

White House prepares sweeping review of trade deals

Excerpt from NASCO Newsletter, original content from politico.com

“The White House is preparing to order a review of all U.S. trade deals, senior administration officials say, as they seek better terms and aim to fulfill a campaign promise from President Donald Trump.

Trump is expected to sign an executive order on reviewing all trade deals, formalizing an administration pledge to reexamine all agreements between the United States and its trading partners. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said in late January that would be the administration’s “No. 1” trade priority, adding the goal would be to “figure out if we can improve them.”

“NAFTA is going to be at the top of the list,” one senior administration official said.

An administration official said the White House is seeking to talk more about trade amid other damaging story lines. “We think it’s a place where the president can really shine.” The executive order is largely symbolic for now, one official cautioned, but puts in place the movement to change the deals.

That means a close examination of 14 agreements that are currently in place: two regional deals, one with North American countries and another with Central American countries plus the Dominican Republic; and a dozen bilateral deals with countries across Asia, South America, the Middle East and Australia.”

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