Trump's "America First" Doctrine and Trans-Pacific Partnership

Abstract

US President Donald Trump unveiled his 'American First' approach by signing an executive order to formally withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership ("TPP") on his first day in the Oval Office. Such decision by President Trump surely came as no surprise as he constantly hailed during his election campaign to disentangle the US from the largest regional trade deal in history, which covers about 40 percent of the global GDP and one-third of world trade. Since the TPP was never ratified by Congress, it may not have an immediate effect on trade. However, Trump's abandonment of the TPP deal indicates a firm intention to act on his election promises of protectionism, which is in line with a clear departure from a free-trade strategy by his taking a tougher stance on trade relations with the foreign competitors.