Trump on Trade

Abstract

To understand the legacy of President Donald Trump, we must recognize that jobs for the United States – and hence trade – are central to this presidency. Acting on a campaign commitment, Trump quickly withdrew from the Trans‐Pacific Partnership (TPP) treaty and then began renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Along the way, Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, and on many other imports produced specifically in China. This commentary examines each sector before considering Trump’s evolving trade legacy.