Trade negotiations, tariff inquiries to continue during shutdown

The Trump administration is set to continue the bulk of its trade policy work during the government shutdown that began on Wednesday, according to agency-specific guides that say negotiations, tariff collections and “national security” investigations are “necessary to the discharge of the President’s constitutional duties and powers.” Although agency functions deemed non-essential were suspended when federal appropriations lapsed at midnight on Oct. 1, there are broad exceptions for duties that officials have designated as necessary under either continued statutory mandates...