Signal America First Trade Policy memo puts nearly every US tool on the China review list

Summary

The America First Trade Policy memorandum issued at the start of the second Trump term sets out a broad China agenda. It orders reviews of Phase One compliance, possible further Section 301 action, Chinese discriminatory practices, legislation on permanent normal trade relations, the treatment of US intellectual property held by Chinese nationals, export control loopholes, connected-vehicle and ICTS controls and outbound investment rules. In effect, almost every instrument available to the US government has been placed under review for use against China. The report submitted to the President recommends making export controls simpler, stricter and more effective to promote US AI dominance and technology leadership. It also calls for broadening the underused ICTS office, whose priority list ranks satellite access points, mobile network hardware, advanced sensors, energy storage, autonomous systems, chips, IaaS, advanced cloud services and connected cars highest.