U.S. President Donald Trump signed April 18, 2017 an executive order promoting American industry and protecting it from unfair competition.
The executive order will target “the abusive use of waivers and exceptions that undermine ‘Buy American’ laws meant to promote taxpayer money going to American companies,” according to a press release from the White House.
Among the provisions of the E.O. promoting the “Buy American” agenda are the following:
- Instructs every agency and department to conduct comprehensive assessment aimed at cracking down on weak monitoring, enforcement, and compliance efforts to strengthen Buy American policies.
- Targets waivers and exceptions that have allowed foreign goods unfair advantages in U.S. government procurement.
- Orders that America’s involvement in the WTO’s Agreement on Government Procurement and other trade deals be reviewed to ensure they meet the President’s standards.
- For the first time, the Buy American bidding process must take into account unfair trade practices.
- Promotes American-made steel by affirming the “melted and poured” standard for steel production in the United States.
For the “Hire American” agenda, “President Trump is making sure “the immigration system isn’t abused to displace hard-working American workers for cheaper foreign labor,” said the White House.
President Trump’s executive order also “takes steps to stop the abuse of the immigration system and protect American workers.” The E.O.:
- Calls on the executive branch to fully enforce the laws governing the entry of foreign workers into the U.S. economy, to promote rising wages and more employment.
- Directs federal agencies to propose reforms to the H-1B program in order shift the program back to its original intent and prevent the displacement of American workers.
The White House statement added that the order was in keeping with Trump’s earlier promise to the American people that “Buy American-Hire American would be a signature foundation of his Administration.”
Photo: Gage Skidmore
