What Comes Next: A Post-Election Analysis of International Trade

According to a recent memorandum drafted by President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team, which solidifies statements made during the campaign, the incoming Trump Administration will begin reshaping U.S. trade policy on President-elect Trump’s first day in office. The memorandum provides a rough outline of President-elect Trump’s five main trade policy principles that he will pursue during the first 200 days of his presidency, which include:  (i) renegotiating or withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”); (ii) stopping the Trans-Pacific Partnership (“TPP”); (iii) stopping unfair imports; (iv) ending unfair trade practices; and (v) pursuing bilateral trade deals. In addition, President-Elect Trump and Republican leadership have identified U.S. sanctions and national security as central issues for the next administration. From proposing a sweeping rollback of the recent easing of sanctions involving Iran and Cuba to emphasizing the need to crack down on those who pose a threat to U.S. national interests, the incoming Trump Administration is poised to make potentially significant changes in these areas.  

This Course examines whether and to what extent the Trump Administration may be able to accomplish President-elect Trump’s U.S. trade policy goals and the associated implications for U.S. international trade and foreign direct investment review.    

The Course will discuss: 1) NAFTA and trade agreements, 2) Trade and import enforcement, 3) the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, 4) Economic Sanctions, and 5) Regulations concerning export controls, arms sales, and related issues. 

1. Understand how the United States enters into and withdraws from trade agreements and the potential impact if the United States withdraws from NAFTA
2. Identify various trade remedies laws and how they might be used aggressively to target perceived unfair trade
3. Explore the role of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and how that role might change in the Trump Administration
4. Learn about economic sanctions, including recent changes to the Iran, Cuba and Russia sanctions programs and how executive orders might be used to undo the recent changes
5. Understand how the Trump Administration might take steps to prioritize national security
6. Discuss potential international reactions to the Trump Administration's proposals