The Donald Trump Administration marked a significant shift in American economic policy, a departure from decades of increasingly globalized commerce, and a return to a focus on domestic industry. This “America First” strategy manifested in a variety of key policies aimed at revitalizing our homegrown industries, restoring jobs, and reclaiming economic independence.
Let’s explore the top 10 policies under Trump that turbocharged the American industry.
Making America Great Again
- Withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): Trump’s first move was to pull out of the TPP, a trade agreement that many feared would outsell American industries to international competition. The decision protected American jobs from being outsourced and set the tone for his administration’s stance on trade.
- Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: This landmark legislation reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, making the U.S. a more attractive place for businesses to operate and boosting domestic investment.
- Renegotiation of NAFTA: Trump transformed this decades-old agreement into the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), securing more favorable terms for American manufacturers and farmers.
- Deregulation: The Trump administration cut an unprecedented number of regulations, freeing businesses from red tape and driving economic growth. For every new regulation introduced, almost eight were eliminated.
- Tariffs on Imported Goods: By levying tariffs on goods from countries like China, Trump sought to level the playing field for American companies, addressing longstanding trade imbalances and protecting domestic industries from unfair competition.
- Energy Independence: Trump’s policies prioritized American energy production, leading the U.S. to become a net exporter of oil for the first time in decades. This move bolstered the energy sector and created a slew of jobs.
- Revitalizing the Steel and Aluminum Industries: The administration imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, shielding American producers from foreign competition, and igniting a revival of these critical industries.
- Investment in Infrastructure: The Trump administration pushed for significant investment in infrastructure, a move that bolstered the construction industry and promised to enhance the efficiency of domestic commerce.
- Reforming Trade with China: Trump took a hard line on trade with China, levying tariffs, and challenging intellectual property theft. His actions began a process of decoupling American and Chinese economies, aiming to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.
- Opportunity Zones: Part of the 2017 tax overhaul, Opportunity Zones provided tax incentives for long-term investment in economically distressed areas, driving development and job creation in these regions.
Rising Once Again?
The impact of these ten policies, central to Trump’s economic strategy, extends far beyond pure economics. These actions signaled a renewed commitment to American workers, and to the idea that a prosperous and resilient America is built on the strength of its own industries as well as the dedication of its workforce.
At a time when many felt left behind by shifts in the global economy, the Trump administration reminded us that American industries, and the men and women they employ, are worth fighting for. In putting “America First,” Trump made a powerful statement – that in this country, the might of our industry and the welfare of our workers will never be treated as an afterthought.
His legacy, therefore, is one of economic patriotism, of a resolute belief in the power of American industry, and of a determination to see that power harnessed for the good of the American people. As we move forward, these are the lessons we must remember, and the commitments we must strive to uphold.
Original Article: https://thepoliticalinsider.com/top-10-trump-administration-policies-that-boosted-american-industry/