1/21/2025–|Last updated: 1/21/202511:30 AM (Mecca time)
US President Donald Trump issued a number of executive orders of an economic nature, in addition to other directions during his first day back in the White House on Monday.
Increased prosperity
Trump ordered all executive departments and agencies to provide emergency relief to the American people in light of rising prices, and to increase the prosperity of the American worker.
Measures include:
- Reduce climate regulations and policies that raise costs.
- Measures to reduce the cost of housing and expand the housing supply.
“Over the past four years, the Biden administration’s destructive policies have inflicted a historic inflation crisis on the American people,” the order stated.
Repeal the ban on oil exploration
Trump signed the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Treaty, including a letter to the United Nations explaining the reasons for the withdrawal.
He says in this matter, “My administration’s policy is to put the interests of the United States and the American people first.”
The president rescinded a 2023 memorandum issued by Biden banning oil drilling on about 16 million acres in the Arctic, saying the government should encourage energy exploration and production on federal lands and waters.
Trump also canceled a mandate regarding electric vehicles.
National energy emergency
Trump declared a national energy emergency, promising to fill strategic oil reserves and export American energy around the world.
Develop a comprehensive plan to maximize oil and gas production in the United States, including declaring a national energy emergency, removing excess regulations, and withdrawing the United States from an international pact to combat climate change.
Trump said he expects these orders to help reduce inflation and protect American national security.
He also signed orders aimed at promoting oil and gas development in Alaska, and reversed Biden’s efforts to protect Arctic lands and waters from drilling.
The White House website said the United States would also end leasing land for wind farms.
These moves indicate a major shift in energy policy after Biden sought to encourage the transition away from fossil fuels and consolidate US leadership in the fight against global warming.
Postponing the TikTok ban
Trump signed an executive order delaying a ban on the short video application TikTok for 75 days after it was scheduled to close on January 19.
But he suggested that the United States would have 50% ownership of the app in the United States in exchange for not banning it.
During the signing of the executive order yesterday evening, Trump said that he “could” see that “the US government acquires a 50% stake in TikTok, and under this stake, it can monitor the site.”
Imposing duties on Mexico and Canada
Trump said he was considering imposing 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico because they allow many people to cross the border, as well as the drug fentanyl, and added that the measure could come as early as next month.
He pledged measures against other countries as part of Washington’s new trade policy.
Reducing the US trade deficit
Trump ordered federal agencies to “investigate and close America’s persistent trade deficit” and address unfair trade practices and currency manipulation by other countries.
This came in a draft of a White House trade memorandum – seen by Reuters – that did not go so far as to order the imposition of immediate new customs duties.
The memo also orders federal agencies to evaluate China’s performance under the “Phase One” trade agreement it signed with Beijing in 2020 to end the nearly two-year tariff war.
The agreement required China to increase its purchases of American exports by $200 billion over two years, but Beijing did not meet this goal with the spread of the “Covid-19” pandemic.
The memorandum also stated, “The extent of China’s compliance with this agreement will now be evaluated, to determine whether the matter requires implementation or change.”
The president called for a reconsideration of Washington’s trade agreement with Mexico and Canada and its agreement with China, which led to a truce in a previous tariff war.
Trump pledged to “begin immediate reform” of the US trade system to “protect American workers and families.”
In his statements in the Oval Office, Trump spoke about the trade imbalance with the European Union, and said that he does not import enough American products.
He added that he would “fix this” by resorting to tariffs or urging the bloc to buy more oil and gas.
