On 100th day of presidency, Trump orders review of WTO rules in move that could lead to US withdrawal
The announcement came amid of a week of tough talk from the Trump administration on trade matters
US President Donald Trump has ordered a review of the World Trade Organisation’s rules, a move that could lead the country’s commerce department to recommend a withdrawal from the trade body.
Trump was expected to sign an executive order Saturday that would direct his Commerce Department and the US Trade Representative to perform a comprehensive study of the nation’s trade agreements to determine whether America is being treated fairly by its trading partners and the 164-nation WTO.
The WTO is a key focus of the review because the trade body is “the grandparent of all trade arrangements that we’ve had”, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said.
The last week has been a frenzy of activity at the White House as Trump and his team have tried to rack up accomplishments and make good on campaign promises before reaching the symbolic 100-day mark.
The executive orders to be signed Saturday would mark Trump’s 31st and 32nd since taking office - the most of any president in his first 100 days since the second world war.
