Visions - Winter/Spring 2017 - 15

than multilateral accords. Based on the comments heard
during confirmation hearings, it appears that administration
officials share President Trump's wariness about the impact of
globalization and free trade on American jobs. One should
expect a nuanced approach to trade that does not pursue
liberalization, emphasizes enforcement, but does not fall into
overt protectionism.
FOREIGN POLICY
In contrast to the general agreement among Trump officials on
trade policy, there appears to be the prospect of real disagreement in the area of foreign policy. Although much will depend
on who emerges as the president's top foreign policy adviser,
foreign policy experts and analysts say "uncertainty" seems to
be the key word when it comes to describing policy direction,
particularly early in the administration. Differences among
cabinet appointees in the areas of the Iran nuclear deal, fighting
Islamic terrorism, restricting immigration, relations with Russia, NATO, and other alliance issues were all expressed during
confirmation hearings. While there is agreement on the need
to address China in Asia, there is no agreement on how to do
this best. President Trump's seeming embrace of Taiwan, support among advisers on the South China Sea islands dispute,
combined with a trade policy push against China raises real
concerns about potential conflict. Adding to the air of uncertainty is that notion that President Trump alienated so much of
the Republic foreign policy establishment during the campaign that it may be difficult to fill key policy positions at the
deputy, assistant, and under secretary levels.

Secretary of Labor
Alexander Acosta
Dean of the Florida
International
University College
of Law,
Former National
Labor Relations
Board member

Secretary of
Health and Human
Services
Tom Price M.D.
Former
Representative,
Georgia

Secretary of
Housing and
Urban
Development
Ben Carson
Retired neurosurgeon

Secretary of
Transportation
Elaine Chao
Fellow, The Hudson
Institute; Director,
News Corp; Board
Member, Wells Fargo;
Former Labor Secretary

ECONOMIC POLICY
Similar to trade, the economic policy team seems well aligned
with many of President Trump's campaign themes-boosting
domestic energy production, reviving manufacturing, cutting
taxes, boosting spending on infrastructure, and reducing regulations. However, agreeing on the details of these issues both
within the Trump administration and with Republican members of Congress will be difficult to say the least. Disagreements have already been seen in such areas as a replacement
plan for the Affordable Care Act, as well as tax, entitlement,
and infrastructure policies. One area where President Trump
clearly differs with congressional Republicans is on the specifics of tax reform, most notably on the border adjustment tax.
In addition, based on his comments related to defense and
infrastructure spending, it remains unclear just how much of
a deficit hawk Mr. Trump might end up being. While the
Trump cabinet choices largely seem to favor the pro-business
policies he has emphasized since the election-lower taxes,
less regulation, and infrastructure investment-implementation of these policies may not always be easy due to Democratic, and potentially conservative Republican, resistance.
CONCLUSION
To discuss any of the topics raised in this article, or obtain
stated policy positions on any member of the Trump
cabinet, please contact: James Winslow, Senior Director,
Government Affairs, (202) 973-0474,
james.winslow@sumitomocorp.com.

Secretary
of Energy
Rick Perry
Former Governor,
Texas

Secretary of
Education
Betsy DeVos
Chairman,
Windquest Group

Secretary of
Veterans Affairs
David Shulkin
Former Undersecretary
for Health at the VA

Secretary of
Homeland
Security
John F. Kelly
Retired Marine
Corps. General

Sumitomo Corporation of Americas

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Visions - Winter/Spring 2017