President Trump issued a memorandum on the first day of his second term, which outlined the Trump administration’s “America First” trade policy and its priorities. With the completion of one year of America First policies in 2026, we could observe the administration’s rigorous trade actions and how they notably transformed America’s strategic and economic position.
To achieve Trump’s “America First” agenda, his administration facilitated robust bilateral negotiations with partners and allies, encouraging them to invest in US industrial and infrastructure projects. Over the last year, the White House declared commitments with the European Union, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and several Gulf Cooperation Council countries to import specific goods and services from the United States. Following substantial pressure from the country, these agreements represented a shift toward a more threatening U.S. foreign policy. As the administration helps select the targets of foreign investment, it starts with the major expansion of the country’s industrial policy.
To understand the Trump-imposed America First trade policies better, let us get an insight into them.
An Introduction to America First Trade Policy
In 2017, Trump’s administration pursued economic and trade policies that kept American workers, national security, and the American economy at the forefront. This approach rejuvenated America through huge economic growth, stable supply chains, a notable increase in real wages and median household wealth, and low inflation, ensuring a path that eliminates pernicious trade deficits.
Considering trade policy as a critical component of national security, this America First approach aimed to reduce America’s dependence on other countries to fulfill its security needs. As stated by Trump himself, “Americans benefit from and deserve an America First trade policy. Therefore, I am establishing a robust and reinvigorated trade policy that promotes investment and productivity, enhances our Nation’s industrial and technological advantages, defends our economic and national security, and — above all — benefits American workers, manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, and businesses.”
Section 2 of the America First trade policy aims to address the unfair and unbalanced trade of the country. According to it, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the United States Trade Representative are given the responsibility to identify the country’s large and persistent annual trade deficits in goods, along with the implications of economic and national security, and associated risks. They must also recommend appropriate measures to address such deficits.
The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, were assigned the task of designing, building, and implementing an External Revenue System to collect tariffs, foreign trade-related revenues, and duties. Apart from these, Section 2 focuses on other activities that could revive the trade deficits of the country.
Section 3 is dedicated to the ‘Economic and Trade Relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), focusing on activities like reviewing trade and economic agreements between the USA and the PRC, assessing China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation, and others. Section 4 deals with additional economic security of the country, encompassing activities such as a full economic and security review of the United States industrial and manufacturing industry, assessing the effectiveness of the exemptions, exclusions, and other import adjustment measures on steel and aluminum, and many such activities. Finally, Section 5 deals with the results of these reviews, investigations, identifications, findings, and recommendations.
Apart from these investigative activities to identify remedies for America’s trade and economic deficits, the America First policy introduced a significant Healthcare Plan for Americans. Let us have an insight into this effective economic plan imposed by the U.S. president.
Trump’s Great Healthcare Plan: Codifying Most-Favored-Nation Deals
The Great Healthcare Plan of Trump calls on Congress to lower healthcare costs for Americans. It is a comprehensive healthcare plan that aims to lower drug prices, maximize price transparency, and lower insurance premiums. The Great Healthcare Plan calls for codifying the Trump Administration’s Most-Favored-Nation deals to ensure Americans have the same low prices for prescription drugs that people in other countries pay. The plan makes verified safe pharmaceutical drugs available for over-the-counter purchase. This will not only lower healthcare costs but also increase consumer choice by reducing the need for time-consuming and costly doctor’s visits, increasing competition, and strengthening price transparency.
Apart from that, the Great Healthcare Plan ceases sending billions in extra taxpayer-funded subsidy payments to big companies. Instead, they set the money directly to eligible Americans, enabling them to buy the health insurance of their choice. The healthcare plan funds a cost-sharing reduction program for healthcare plans, helping taxpayers save at least $36 billion and reducing the Obamacare plan premiums by over 10%.
By creating a “Plain English Insurance” Standard, which requires health insurance companies to publish rate and coverage comparisons, percentage of their revenues, and the percentage of insurance claims they reject on their websites in simple English, the Great Healthcare Plan will help consumers make better insurance purchasing decisions.
To ensure maximum price transparency, this plan requires a healthcare provider or insurer accepting Medicare or Medicaid to post their fees and pricing in their business place.
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