Presidential directives demanding trade actions have yet to produce tangible outcomes

Since taking office last year, President Trump has ordered a host of trade-related plans and reports to be completed by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Commerce Department, but the administration has not yet taken significant actions that can be traced back to those directives. The executive orders and memoranda signed by Trump cover such issues as bilateral trade deficits, government procurement, customs laws, national security and intellectual property rights. Many were announced to fanfare and accompanied...