Page 48 - TrumpsEconEra_Flat

Chapter 2: The Key Players

well U.S. interests and has chosen the “national defense
argument” to justify this policy. The 1962 Trade
Expansion Act gives the president broad powers to
impose trade restrictions on domestic security grounds.
China responded by imposing tariffs on American pork,
fruits, and 120 types of commodities.

This threat of a trade war is an example of Donald
Trump’s bargaining style of stirring up controversy
with unexpected announcements meant to shock his
opponents—after taking a stand on an issue; he watches
their reactions before moderating his stance. He used
this approach during his business career and into his
presidency with the Mexican border wall, his berating
NATO members for not doing their fair share, and his
stance on immigration when he offered a pathway to
citizenship for 1.8 million Dreamers. He discusses this
approach in his 1987 book The Art of the Deal.This
business style has been agonizing for his staff, his party,
and citizens, but people have to realize that Donald
Trump is always looking at the result and uses shock
and awe to get people’s attention. He is willing to take
risks and pay a high price to achieve his nationalist
agenda while ignoring short-run implications of his
policies and concentrating on long-run results.

President Trump has reduced the influence of the
Environmental Protection Agency, and he has come
against many green energy programs. For example, he
signed House Joint Resolution 38 repealing the stream
protection rule, which would have required coal compa-
nies to monitor water quality near mines. “In eliminat-
ing this rule I am continuing to keep my promise to the
American people to get rid of wasteful regulations,”
Trump said during a signing ceremony.

-47-