President Trump Issues Trade-Related Executive Orders and Memoranda

The United States' total trade deficit in 2016 was $502.3 billion. President Trump believes that the deficit—and especially its consequences (“wealth … stripped from our country”), causes (“bad trade deals”), and images (“shuttered factories”)—played a prominent role in his electoral success in 2016. Since taking office, Trump has signed a series of executive orders and memoranda on trade in order to fulfill various campaign promises on this front. The executive orders and memoranda focus mainly on gathering information and laying groundwork for future executive action. Taken together, they signal the Trump administration's intention to address the United States' trade deficits, especially with China.