Trade Agreement Review (E.O. 13796)

Summary

Requires a full review of all U.S. trade deals to find and fix problems that hurt American workers and businesses.

What problem does this solve?

Many past trade deals have hurt the U.S. economy by causing large trade deficits and job losses. This order directs the government to review all trade agreements and identify these problems so they can be fixed.

What does this order do?

Requires review of all trade agreements

Orders the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to conduct a full review of every trade and investment agreement the United States is a part of.

Sets new policy for trade deals

Establishes that all U.S. trade agreements should help economic growth, improve the trade balance, and strengthen American manufacturing.

Identifies trade agreement failures

Requires a report to the President that points out any violations, unfair treatment, or cases where agreements failed to deliver promised benefits like new jobs.

Examines trade with WTO countries

Directs a review of trade relationships with World Trade Organization countries that do not have a free trade agreement with the U.S. but have a large trade surplus.

Allows for renegotiation or termination of deals

States that it is U.S. policy to renegotiate or end any existing trade agreement that harms the U.S. economy, businesses, or people.

Who does this affect?

American workers
Domestic manufacturers
Farmers and ranchers

What is the real world impact?

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Ensures trade deals benefit the U.S.

Sets a policy that all trade agreements should help the U.S. economy, workers, and businesses. It aims to correct past deals that have caused harm.

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Justifies renegotiating or ending trade deals

Creates an official process to find faults in existing trade agreements. These findings can then be used as a reason to change the terms of the deals or to leave them completely.

When does this start?

This order went into effect on April 29, 2017, and includes a specific deadline for a report.

Trade agreement performance review report

A report on the findings of the performance reviews must be submitted to the President within 180 days of April 29, 2017.