Trade, Tariff and Immigration: US President Donald Trump's Top Announcements

After his inauguration, President Donald Trump swiftly began implementing key campaign promises, focusing on reversing policies from the Biden administration. His actions spanned immigration, trade, energy, and federal workforce policies.

“We will immediately restore the integrity, competency, and loyalty of America’s government,” Trump said during his inaugural address on Monday.  
During his roughly 30-minute speech in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday, the president said that the 'golden age of America begins right now' and outlined his ideas for addressing issues ranging from gender identity to immigration to energy.

In 2017, his speech had 1,433 words, while his address had 2,885 words, according to the American Presidency Project.

Trade and Economy

Trump announced plans to overhaul trade policies, particularly with China, and introduced a 25 per cent  tariff on Canada and Mexico starting February 1. He also signed an order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." A proposed "External Revenue Service" aims to collect tariffs and boost US Treasury revenue. Additionally, Trump signed measures to address consumer inflation and temporarily suspended US foreign aid.

Immigration Policies

Trump plans a comprehensive overhaul of immigration policies through 10 executive orders, including declaring a national emergency at the southern border. Key measures include completing the border wall, ending birthright citizenship, pausing refugee resettlements, and intensifying deportations.

Citizenship Changes

An executive order aims to revoke US citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants born in the country, challenging the 14th Amendment. This controversial move is expected to face legal challenges.

Federal employees  

Federal employees will be required to return to office-based positions. With the exception of the military and some unidentified government agencies, Trump has suspended federal hiring. Additionally, he promised to deal with what he called an overabundance of diversity and inclusion initiatives in government jobs.

Energy and Climate

Trump has begun dismantling Biden-era climate policies, focusing on domestic energy production, expanding oil and gas drilling, and easing appliance regulations. He officially withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and halted large wind farm leases.

Socio-Cultural Policies

The administration will recognize only two genders in government documents, rollback DEI initiatives, and enforce segregation in federal facilities based on biological sex. Trump also renamed Denali back to "Mount McKinley."

National Security

Trump reinstated military personnel discharged for refusing Covid-19 vaccinations with full back pay and expressed intentions to reclaim control of the Panama Canal.

Revoking EV Targets

Trump revoked Biden’s 2030 electric vehicle sales target and halted funding for vehicle charging stations. He also plans to review the end of EV tax credits and state waivers for zero-emission vehicle rules.

Corporate Tax Deal

Trump withdrew the US from the global corporate minimum tax deal, directing the Treasury to consider protective measures against countries with potentially discriminatory tax rules against American companies.

'America First' Foreign Policy

Trump signed an order prioritizing ‘core American interests’ in US foreign policy, emphasizing America and its citizens above all else. This directive aligns all State Department policies and operations with an America First' approach.