Trump Moves Against Trade Deal, Orders Hiring Freeze
From staff and wire reports
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump moved to pull the United States out of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact Monday, dealing a quick blow to Barack Obama's legacy as the new chief executive began fulfilling campaign promises in his first full week in office.
"Great thing for the American worker that we just did," Trump said in brief remarks as he signed a notice in the Oval Office.
The president also signed a memorandum freezing most federal government hiring, though he noted an exception for the military. As of Monday afternoon, representatives with the Huntington District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the district had not received any guidance from the federal government about how to proceed. A spokesperson for the Huntington VA Medical Center similarly said the center had not received any notification as to whether the freeze would affect that center's operation, saying those decisions would be left to personnel services at the federal VA office.
Trump additionally signed memorandums reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option. The regulation, known as the "Mexico City Policy," has been a political volleyball, instituted by Republican administrations and rescinded by Democratic ones since 1984.
Following a tumultuous first weekend in office - consumed by Trump's criticism of the media's inauguration coverage and his spokesman's angry, inaccurate tirade against journalists - the president was seeking to refocus on the sweeping, yet often vague, promises he made as a candidate. He campaigned as a fierce opponent of multilateral trade agreements, particularly the 12-nation Pacific Rim deal.
The deal was the cornerstone of Obama's attempt to counter China's influence in Asia. The Obama administration labored for years to finalize TPP. But Obama's own Democratic Party was skeptical of the pact, and the former president never sent it to Congress for ratification.
As Trump pressed forward with executive actions, a legal watchdog group filed a lawsuit alleging he is violating the so-called emoluments clause in the Constitution by allowing his business to accept payments from foreign governments. The liberal-funded watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics says the clause prohibits Trump from receiving money from diplomats for stays at his hotels or from foreign governments for leases of office space in his buildings.
Asked about the suit, Trump said it was "totally without merit."
The president was spending much of the day reaching out to lawmakers and others with a stake in his economic policies. Congressional leaders from both parties were attending an evening reception at the White House. The president was also scheduled to meet with union leaders and workers.
He began the day huddling with business leaders. He warned that he would impose a "substantial border tax" on companies that move their manufacturing out of the United States. He also promised tax advantages to companies that produce products domestically.
"All you have to do is stay," he said during a meeting in the White House's Roosevelt Room.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin were among the executives who attended the meeting. The gathering kicked off a jam-packed day for the new president, including an evening reception with lawmakers from both parties and a sit-down with union leaders.
Trump ran for office pledging to overhaul U.S. trade policy, arguing that massive free-trade agreements have disadvantaged American workers. Since winning the White House, he's aggressively called out companies that have moved factories overseas, vowing to slap taxes on products they then try to sell in the U.S.
"Some people say that's not free trade, but we don't have free trade now," Trump said Monday.
The president also reiterated his campaign pledge to lower taxes for companies, as well as the middle class, "anywhere from 15 to 25 percent," although Trump has not been clear on how he intends to make up for the lost tax revenue. He also called for cutting 75 percent of federal regulations - and insisted that doing so would not compromise worker safety.
Trump also announced that he's set up meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, whose countries are partners with the U.S. in the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump has vowed to renegotiate the terms of that pact.
"We're going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA," he said of his meeting with Pena Nieto.
Later in the week, he'll address congressional Republicans at their retreat in Philadelphia and meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May.
Analysis: Trump’s Trade Plans To Test His Deal-Making Skills
Federal Judge Rejects Aetna/Humana Deal
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News