Those looking for a moderation or any adjustment in the administration’s approach to trade, in specific, its stance in the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), found none in the address.
“America has finally turned the page on decades of unfair trade deals that sacrificed our prosperity and shipped away our companies, our jobs, and our nation’s wealth,” Trump said. “The era of economic surrender is over. From now on, we expect trading relationships to be fair and to be reciprocal. We will work to fix bad trade deals and negotiate new ones. And we will protect American workers and American intellectual property through strong enforcement of our trade rules.”
NAFTA was not mentioned by name, nor were any other agreements, this despite the conclusion of the sixth round of NAFTA renegotiation in Montreal just a week before the president’s address.
Trump pointed to his administration’s “four-pillar” proposal for immigration reform.
First, Trump outlined a path the citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought as children to the United States by their parents who entered the country illegally. Trump said those who meet education and work requirements and show good moral character will be able to become full citizens of the United States (over 12 years).
Second, the administration will seek to fully secure the border, which would require building a wall on the border with Mexico and hiring more immigration control officers, the president said.
Third, Trump said his plan would end a lottery that “randomly hands out” green cards without regard for skill, merit, or safety of the American people.
“It is time to begin moving toward a merit-based immigration system — one that admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will contribute to our society, and who will love and respect our country,” Trump said.
And fourth, the plan would significantly narrow what the president has called “chain migration,” allowing immigrants to sponsor the immigration to the United States of only their spouses and minor children.
The plan doesn’t address issues related to farm labor, which played a key role in previous attempts to enact comprehensive immigration reform. Indeed, Trump lamented that current immigration policies “have allowed millions of low-wage workers to compete for jobs and wages against the poorest Americans.”
The priority placed by the president on rebuilding and expanding the nation’s infrastructure was welcomed, but details on how this might be legislated were few.
“Tonight, I am calling on the Congress to produce a bill that generates at least $1.5 trillion for the new infrastructure investment we need,” Trump said. “Every federal dollar should be leveraged by partnering with state and local governments and, where appropriate, tapping into private sector investment — to permanently fix the infrastructure deficit…Together we can claim our building heritage. We will build gleaming new roads, bridges, railways and waterway across our land.”
 |
| Sonny Perdue, US secretary of agriculture |
US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, in commenting on the state of the union address, said, “The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is already helping workers and will allow agricultural producers to invest more in their operations and their own families. President Trump’s optimistic vision for the nation includes massive investment in infrastructure, which will be a boon to a rural America that sorely needs such improvements. The president’s emphasis on fair trade gives me confidence that he will strike deals that benefit all parts of the American economy. Additionally, his focus on eliminating burdensome regulations is freeing up agricultural producers and removing obstacles to productivity.”
 |
| Robert Lighthizer, US trade representative |
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said, “His (President Trump’s) unwavering commitment to promoting America’s interests and insisting on fair and reciprocal trade will deliver even more prosperity to the American people. As the president has said, America is no longer turning a blind eye to unfair foreign trade practices. We are and will continue to strongly enforce our trade laws and defend American workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses.”
 |
| Zippy Duval, president o the American farm Bureau Federation |
Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, lauded recently enacted tax reductions that he said benefit farmers and ranchers and the administration’s easing of regulatory burdens on producers.
Duvall said as the president reframes trade agreements as fair and reciprocal, “he goes in with the understanding that we need a trade agenda that secures greater access to ag export markets. That’s important as our farmers prepare to plant their crops for 2018.”
On the president’s proposals on immigration, Duvall said, “The bold package of immigration reform measures he put on the table tonight should prime the pump for overdue action, and we encourage Congress to take action in a timely manner. While we must do more to secure our borders, the fact remains that our farmers and ranchers need access to agriculture labor they can depend on. Agriculture must be part of President Trump’s proposal for merit-based immigration. We will work with the administration and Congress to ensure we get the job done.”
