Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
President Trump announced the removal of tariffs on Scotch whiskey following a visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The action aims to strengthen trade relationships between Scotland and the Commonwealth of Kentucky on whiskey and bourbon industries. American consumers may see lower prices on imported Scotch whiskey products.
President Trump signed Proclamation 10114 on September 11, 2020, designating the week of September 21-27, 2020 as Minority Enterprise Development Week. The proclamation calls for recognition of minority-owned businesses and encourages support for their development. As a proclamation, it has no binding legal effect and serves as a statement recognizing the designated week.
President Trump signed Proclamation 10281 on September 4, 2020, designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day and calling for its observance. The proclamation is a ceremonial declaration without regulatory changes to existing labor law or federal programs. It had no direct operational impact on American workers or labor protections.
On August 28, 2020, President Trump signed Proclamation 10414, which modified tariffs on steel imports by adjusting Section 232 tariff rates and exemptions. The proclamation reduced the tariff rate on certain steel products from 25% to 0% for countries meeting specified criteria, while maintaining or adjusting rates for others. The action directly affected steel prices for American manufacturers, construction companies, and automotive producers who import or use steel in production.
On August 24, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13946, directing federal agencies to prioritize locating new federal facilities and developments in Opportunity Zones and other economically distressed communities designated under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The order requires federal agencies to consider Opportunity Zone locations when making decisions about new federal infrastructure projects, real estate acquisitions, and facility consolidations. The confirmed direct impact is that federal agencies altered their site selection processes to weight Opportunity Zone eligibility as a factor in capital planning decisions.
On August 8, 2020, President Trump signed Memorandum 2020-17899 deferring payroll tax obligations for employees earning less than $100,000 annually from September 1 through December 31, 2020. The memorandum directed the Treasury Secretary to defer collection of the employee portion of Social Security taxes during this period. The deferred taxes were to be collected between January 1 and April 30, 2021, meaning affected employees faced larger withholdings in early 2021 rather than a permanent tax reduction.
On August 6, 2020, President Trump signed Proclamation 2020-17977 adjusting imports of aluminum into the United States. The proclamation modified tariff rates and established import quotas on aluminum products, continuing restrictions initially imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The action directly affected U.S. importers, domestic aluminum producers, and manufacturers using aluminum as an input, altering the cost and availability of aluminum-based goods in the American market.
Executive Order 13940 was signed on August 3, 2020. The order directed federal agencies to prioritize hiring American workers and to modify federal contracting procedures to align with domestic workforce interests. The confirmed direct effect included revised hiring guidelines for federal positions and changes to contracting evaluation criteria at federal agencies during the remainder of the 2020 fiscal year.
On July 29, 2020, the Trump administration authorized the Kansas City Southern Railway Company to construct, connect, operate, and maintain railway bridge facilities at the international boundary between the United States and Mexico. The authorization permits the company to build and maintain cross-border rail infrastructure at a specified location on the US-Mexico border. The direct effect allows increased rail transport capacity between the two countries at this crossing point.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13935 on July 9, 2020, establishing the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative to coordinate federal policy on Hispanic American economic advancement. The order directed federal agencies to develop programs and policies focused on Hispanic business development, workforce training, and educational opportunities. The confirmed direct impact includes the creation of an interagency task force and requirement that federal agencies report on initiatives affecting Hispanic American economic outcomes.