Trump Again Orders Buy American Push

President Donald Trump — TRUMP PUSHES AMERICAN-MADE

Trump’s quiet report vows to gut international trade deals that undermine American manufacturing, potentially sparking a procurement revolution worth hundreds of billions.

Story Highlights

April 3, 2025: White House drops overlooked executive summary pushing aggressive Buy American enforcement.
January 20, 2025: Trump’s America First Trade Policy kicks off review of WTO GPA waivers diluting U.S. preferences.
Builds on 2017 EO 13788, expanding to 95% domestic steel and targeting federal infrastructure spending.
Promises thousands of jobs in steel, defense, and manufacturing while challenging foreign subsidies.
Positions Buy American as “common-sense public policy” for economic and national security.

Buy American Act Origins and Evolution

Congress passed the Buy American Act in 1933, following the 1929 crash and the Smoot-Hawley tariffs, to shield U.S. industry. Federal agencies must prioritize domestic goods for purchases over $3,500, like steel with over 50% U.S. content, rising to 95% under Trump orders.

This covers $600 billion in annual procurement, but Trade Agreements Act waivers for WTO GPA nations like the EU and Japan often bypass it. Trump’s moves are rooted in economic nationalism aimed at closing those gaps.

Trump says federal agencies ‘must buy American’https://t.co/t0BEYv4DIU

— The Hill (@thehill) May 10, 2026

Trump’s First-Term Executive Onslaught

Trump signed EO 13788 on April 18, 2017, mandating that agencies maximize U.S. content and scrutinize waivers. Follow-ups included EO 13801 assessing manufacturing resilience, a January 2019 order hitting 95% steel thresholds for infrastructure, and more than 10 EOs targeting defense, medical supplies, and state aid.

The 2020 report touted thousands of jobs created, wage hikes for blue-collar workers, and a fortified defense base under strict Buy American rules.

Second-Term Pivot to Trade Deal Scrutiny

On January 20, 2025, Trump’s America First Trade Policy directed reviews of the impacts of GPA on his 2017 order. The April 3 executive summary of a non-public report recommends renegotiating or exiting deals favoring foreign bidders.

It echoes the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation’s tactics to counter distortions, urging OMB to issue guidance against subsidized foreign competition in U.S. bids. This targets loopholes letting overseas firms undercut American steel and iron.

Stakeholders Gaining and Losing Ground

U.S. manufacturers, unions, and Rust Belt workers stand to gain from fewer waivers, boosting bids on $200 billion in non-TAA procurement. Federal agencies like DOD and HHS implement via MadeinAmerica.gov, balancing costs against security.

Foreign GPA nations face barriers, risking WTO disputes. FAR Council strengthens regs, aligning with Trump’s vows. Common sense favors this: American taxpayers fund American jobs first.

Trump Vows to Strengthen 'Buy American' Federal Policy | https://t.co/l9SFPZuXsX https://t.co/YvG7E6ur8U

— Alice Hemphill (@AliceHemph19062) May 11, 2026

Short-term, domestic steel mandates hike infra costs by 5-20% but deliver a manufacturing resurgence amid post-COVID vulnerabilities. Long-term reshoring reduces dependence on China, though GPA exits invite retaliation.

Trump reports claim doubled antidumping duties over Obama, proving superior enforcement creates real jobs without globalist excuses.