Establishment of Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy

This executive order creates the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy (OTMP) within the White House Office, tasking it with advising the President on trade policy, reducing the trade deficit, strengthening domestic manufacturing, and implementing Buy American/Hire American policies. The office is led by a presidentially selected Director with staff determined by the Chief of Staff.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 20821

Key directives

Establish OTMP within White House Office
Select Director by President
Determine staff by Assistant to President and Chief of Staff
Advise President on trade policies to increase growth and decrease trade deficit
Serve as White House liaison to Department of Commerce
Undertake trade-related special projects as requested by President
Help improve executive branch domestic procurement and hiring policies
Implement policies from EO 13788 (Buy American and Hire American)

Who is ordered

Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff · White House Office

Timeline

Immediate

OTMP established within White House Office
Director position created

Near term (90d)

Staffing decisions by Chief of Staff
Liaison role with Department of Commerce activated

Long term

Ongoing trade policy advisory function
Implementation of Buy American/Hire American policies through EO 13788
Efforts to reduce trade deficit and strengthen manufacturing base

Risks & tensions

No appropriations guaranteed—funding contingent on availability per Section 4(b)
Potential overlap with existing trade functions in USTR, Commerce, NEC
Vague scope of 'special projects' could create interagency friction
No enforcement mechanism or right created per Section 4(c)
Staffing level entirely discretionary to Chief of Staff, creating uncertainty about capacity