Presidential transitions signify a new direction in American policy. Considering the contrast between incoming and outgoing administrations, philosophical changes are bound to occur. And now that the 2020 general election has come to an end, anticipation surrounds the forthcoming agenda.
With Joe Biden preparing to become our 46th president, speculation is growing that he will undo a multitude of Donald Trump’s policies. Many are expecting a flurry of executive orders on his first day in office.
In an article published on Nov. 8, Forbes contributing writer Zack Friedman theorized that Biden will reenter America into the Paris Climate Accord and World Health Organization, reverse Trump era travel bans with Muslim nations, and “reinstate the DREAMers program, which allows children of undocumented immigrants to remain in the U.S.”
And while these changes will likely take place, Biden would be wise to rescind another of Trump’s policies.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump promised to level the economic playing field with China by renegotiating trade deals that would benefit America. After becoming president, Trump instituted a policy to increase tariffs against our eastern competitors. Although well-intended, the strategy has failed to deliver the desired results.
On the surface, Trump’s plan to generate income and reduce America’s trade deficit seemed logical. Increased tariffs on China would produce additional revenue and presumably result in profits. However, Trump did not take into account the impact retaliatory tariffs would have on America’s economy. Accordingly, the tariffs he levied on China have proven to be counterproductive.
The National Foundation for American Policy reported Trump’s tariffs have resulted in a sharp decline in United States agricultural exports. According to its January 2020 briefing,soybean exports from U.S. farmers to China declined by 75% in 2018, which prompted the Trump administration to spend $28 billion dollars on aid to farmers.
Given the economic hardships created by the coronavirus pandemic, our country can ill afford to dispense more unplanned expenditures.
Regardless of which policies Biden chooses to address, his decisions will come under intense scrutiny. With Trump receiving more than 72 million votes in the general election, many Americans are certain to question Biden’s choices. But that is the nature of our democracy. And for the last four years, Trump’s rivals have had to live with his directives.
In politics, an old adage applies. “To the victor go the spoils.”
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