US Policy Agenda under the Second Trump Administration
EDITORS NOTE
The Trump administration has issued a record number of executive orders, some of which face legal challenges. President Trump has also announced wide-ranging new tariffs. AmCham will regularly keep this site updated as new information becomes available. Current as of , Thursday 5 June 2025.
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Donald Trump’s second term as President of the United States, which began on 20 January 2025, is expected to bring significant changes to business and international relations. President Trump’s America First priorities focus on immigration and border security, trade and tariffs, energy and environment, and reforming the government bureaucracy.
AmCham supports its members in understanding and adapting to the changes enacted by the new US administration and in capturing opportunities. Through thought-leadership pieces, events, and engagements, AmCham will provide its members with updates about the potential implications of the Trump’s administration’s policy agenda on doing business in Australia and in the United States. In the context of the administration’s emerging priorities, Australia has an opportunity to amplify its position as a key ally and an important trade partner with shared values and a long history of mutually beneficial economic ties and strategic cooperation with the United States.
The following are the policy priorities of the Trump administration as outlined in Executive Orders, Proclamations, and Memoranda.
Executive Orders, Proclamations, and Memoranda
- Trade and Tariffs
- Energy, Environment, and Mineral Resources
- Inflation Reduction Act
- Defence and AUKUS
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Digital Economy
- Federal Work Force and Government Efficiency
- Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Security
- Deregulation
- OECD Global Tax Deal
- Financial Services
- Health
- Education and Research
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility (DEIA), and Environmental Justice
- Foreign Aid and Other Funding
- United Nations and the International Criminal Court
Trump’s Position on other Relevant Policy Areas
- Foreign Policy and International Relations
- Global Entry for Australian Citizens
- CHIPS and Science Act
Executive Orders, Proclamations, and Memoranda
Trump's Trade and Tariffs Policies
EDITORS NOTE: We have provided a detailed list of Executive Actions related to tariffs at the end of this section.
Tariffs Enacted on 2 April 2025
President Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on 2 April 2025, a day he called “Liberation Day,” and significantly reshaped US trade policy. Invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, Trump asserted that these “discounted reciprocal tariffs”, ranging from 50% as the highest rate to 10% as baseline, would address the harmful policies perpetuated by both allies and adversaries. Among key U.S. trading partners hit by the highest tariff rates are Mexico and Canada (12% + 25% on non-USMCA compliant goods and 10% non-USMC compliant energy and potash), China (34% + existing 20%), European Union (20%), Japan (24%), South Korea (25%), Taiwan (32%), and Vietnam (46%).
Status of US Tariffs Implementation and Legal Challenges
Rate Hike on Steel and Aluminium Tariffs
President Trump issued an action increasing the tariff rate for steel and steel derivative articles and aluminium and aluminium derivative articles from 25% to 50%. According to the proclamation signed on 3 June 2025 and effective on 4 June 2025, the rate hike was necessary to prevent countries from offloading low-priced, excess steel and aluminium in the US and eliminate the national security threat posed by imports of these products. The action exempts the United Kingdom from the tariff increase, retaining 25% rate for UK steel and aluminium imports in recognition of the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal of 8 May 2025.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he considers the decision by the U.S. to double the steel and aluminium tariffs to be an economic “act of self-harm" but stated the Australian Government will not pursue any retaliatory action. Discussion on this issue between Albanese and Trump is expected to take place when the two leaders meet at the 51st G7 Summit from 15-17 June 2025 in Canada.
Legal Challenges
The US Court of International Trade issued a ruling on 28 May 2025, stating that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant the President of the United States the authority to impose worldwide, retaliatory, or trafficking tariff orders.
Following an appeal from the Trump Administration, however, the US Court of Appeals issued an emergency stay on 29 May 2025, temporarily reinstating the tariffs. The legal process is ongoing
Ruling by The US Court of International Trade
The decision by The US Court of International Trade was in response to lawsuits filed by small businesses and twelve states which argued that the President does not have the authority to arbitrarily impose tariffs and questioned the validity of the circumstances defined as “national emergency” that justify such change in the US trade policy under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The coalition of states include Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont. A similar complaint was filed against President Trump and the Executive Office of the President by a group of small businesses based in Utah, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, which are engaged in wholesale, e-commerce, retail, and manufacturing and import finished goods, raw materials, and electronic parts from Asia, Europe, South America, and Africa.
Additional Legal Challenges
Other legal challenges were filed against the Trump Administration's imposition of tariffs on Chinese and Canadian imports, questioning the president’s legal authority to exercise such legislative powers and alleging potential violation of existing laws, such as the Jay Treaty that exempts Native Americans from duties or tariffs when conducting cross border trade with Canada.
While the reciprocal tariffs were initially set to take effect on 9 April 2025, a subsequent order paused their implementation for 90 days from 10 April 2025 until 9 July 2025. During this period, the 10% baseline rate will apply to all countries, except China, to which an additional 125% reciprocal tariff was imposed by Trump after Beijing announced retaliatory tariff on US goods. This brings the total tariff rate on goods imported from China to 145%, including the 20% tariff set by Trump on China through executive orders issued in February and March 2025. Trump also raised the tariff on Chinese low-value imports, previously covered by de minimis exemptions, from 30% to 90%, and subsequently to 120%.
Following a meeting between their trade representatives in Geneva, China and the US agreed to implement a reduced tariff rate on each other’s goods for 90 days effective on 14 May 2025. The US has paused the country-specific 125% tariff it imposed on China through actions issued in April 2025 and instead applies a 10% baseline tariff and retained the 20% tariff set in January 2025. The US has also reduced the tariff on low-value or de-minimis Chinese imports from 120% to 54%. On the other hand, China has suspended the 125% retaliatory tariffs on US imports and instead imposed a 10% tariff during the same period. To normalise economic and trade relations, China and the US have committed to continue their dialogue to be led by Chinese Vice Premier of the State Council He Lifeng, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The introduction of these tariffs significantly reshapes US trade policy. The administration’s decision to introduce these tariffs on all countries followed the release of the 2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE), which the administration said highlights persistent barriers affecting access to market by US exports, including restrictive standards and regulations.
The new tariff rates do not rescind the tariffs provided in earlier presidential actions, such as those pertaining to steel and aluminium, autos and auto parts, and specific items imported from Canada and Mexico. Commodities exempted from the country-specific reciprocal tariffs are copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber articles, bullion, energy, and other certain minerals that are not available in the US. In a memo released by President Trump to cabinet officials on 11 April 2025, he clarified that these exemptions also apply to China, with specific reference that such exemptions include semi-conductors.
Subsequently, Trump issued an executive order on 29 April 2025 to clarify that tariffs shall not have a cumulative effect when an article is subject to more than one of the earlier presidential actions issued by the current administration. This particularly applies to tariffs on automobiles and automobile parts, in relation to tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico, tariffs on imported steel and derivative steel articles, and tariffs on aluminium and derivative aluminium articles. This action is implemented retroactively on or after 4 March 2025 and refunds will be processed by the US Customs and Border Protection as applicable. This order also specifies that the “stacking exception” does not cover goods imported from China, which may still be subject to cumulative US tariffs.
Trump also signed a proclamation on 29 April 2025 to offer automobile manufacturers an option to offset a portion of tariffs for automobile parts used in automobiles assembled in the US between 2025 and 2027. Manufacturers may apply an amount equal to 3.75 % or 2.5% of the aggregate Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price value of all automobiles assembled in the US from 3 April 2025 to 30 April 2026, and from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2027 respectively. This adjustment was made to ensure that tariffs are imposed only to non-US content.
The administration has said these tariffs will remain in effect until such time President Trump determines that the threat arising from trade deficits and nonreciprocal treatment have been satisfied, resolved, or mitigated.
Tariffs on Australia - At a Glance
- 10% on all goods exported to the US, effective 5 April 2025
- 50% tariff on steel and steel derivatives exported to the US by all countries, effective 4 June 2025
- 50% tariff on aluminium and aluminum derivatives exported to the US by all countries, effective 4 June 2025
Tariffs on Australia – In Depth
The US has imposed a 10% baseline tariff on all Australian exports, in addition to removing Australia’s exemption from the 25% tariff on steel and aluminum. In response, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese referred to Trump’s new tariffs as “not unexpected but totally unwarranted.” The prime minster said a reciprocal tariff to Australia would be 0% given the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two nations. Albanese said Australia would not retaliate and “join a race to the bottom which will lead to higher prices and slower growth.” Albanese also said the government would continue its constructive engagement with the US to resolve the issue, without having to resort to the FTA’s dispute resolution mechanism. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader the Hon Peter Dutton, MP asserted that Australia did not deserve the new tariff given the nation’s long history of a trusted relationship with the US. If elected as prime minister in the upcoming federal election, Dutton committed to normalising Australia’s trade relations with the US to help beef producers, strengthen manufacturing and industries, and increase employment in Australia.
In his Liberation Day speech, Trump criticised Australia for not allowing US beef imports “to protect their farmers.” As outlined in the NTE, Australia requires a complex permitting and approval process for the importation of bovine products from a country with reported cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. While the Australian market has remained closed to fresh US beef and beef products since 2003, Australia has recorded a 60% growth in its beef exports to the US at 394,716 tonnes in 2024. The NTE also highlighted other sanitary and phytosanitary barriers in the Australian market around fresh US pork and poultry imports, as well as fresh fruits imports, specifically apples and pears.
The NTE also referenced Australia’s delay in implementing a patent notification system and marketing approval process to protect intellectual property rights for pharmaceutical products provided under Australia’s free trade agreement with the US. It also cited “concerns about certain provisions in Australian law regarding potential civil damages in cases where a patent owner seeks a preliminary injunction.”
Among other trade barriers flagged in the report are Australia’s Media Bargaining Code, which requires designated platform services companies to pay Australian news business media for content, and a proposal to impose Australian screen content requirements on video streaming services as part of Australia’s National Cultural Policy.
In addition, the report identified as an investment barrier the lack of action from the Government of New South Wales (NSW) to compensate shareholders, including US investors, in a mining project whose license to operate was cancelled in 2014. The report referred to a legislation passed by the NSW Government which prohibits payment of any compensation in relation to the project’s cancelled license. According to the NTE, the NSW Government has not acted on a recommendation from a parliamentary committee to establish a compensation scheme for affected shareholders.
Previous Trump Announcements on Tariffs
Trump’s Rose Garden announcement of 2 April was the latest major tariff-related action in the wake of the administration’s America First Trade Policy, contained in a memorandum issued by the president after his inauguration on 20 January 2025. In this memorandum, President Trump ordered the review of existing trade agreements, an investigation into trade deficits, and recommended measures such as global supplemental tariffs to achieve or maintain reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to free trade agreements with partner countries. Under the same policy, President Trump directed the assessment of China’s compliance with the Economic and Trade Agreement with the US, an evaluation of the feasibility of creating what he called an External Revenue Service to collect tariffs and duties, and a review of the US industrial and manufacturing base to determine the need for additional national security-related tariffs.
Trump also invoked his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by issuing executive orders that imposed 25% tariffs on most imports from Canada, all products from Mexico, and 10% tariffs on all imports from China to address national security concerns such as opioid trafficking and illegal immigration. Trump also imposed 10% tariffs on Canadian energy resources such as crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products. Earlier executive actions also eliminated the “de minimis” exemption for Canada, Mexico, and China, which allowed shipment valued under USD 800 to enter the US duty-free. While the effective date of the actions was set for 4 February 2025, Trump delayed until 2 April 2025 the implementation of tariffs for Canada and Mexico after both countries reiterated their commitments to strengthen security at their respective borders. A subsequent executive order also reinstated the duty-free “de minimis” treatment of eligible imports to the US.
During his third week in office, Trump invoked the national security provisions of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports to the US effective from 12 March 2025. The order also expanded coverage of the tariffs to include downstream steel and aluminium derivative products, which were initially exempted from the actions issued in 2020. Furthermore, Trump terminated all pre-existing alternative arrangements which carved out trading partners such as Australia from the previous tariff regime for steel and aluminium. Trump did not grant Australia an exemption from the tariffs imposed on steel and aluminium despite the extensive negotiation efforts of the Australian Government. Treasury estimates the direct and indirect impact of tariffs imposed on all of Australia’s durable manufacturing goods, including steel and aluminium, will result in -0.1% change to real GDP by 2030.
On 11 March 2025, AmCham Australia submitted a position paper in response to the US Trade Representative Federal Register Notice Request for Comments to Assist in Reviewing and Identifying Unfair Trade Practices and Initiating All Necessary Actions to Investigate Harm from Non-Reciprocal Trade Arrangements. In this submission, AmCham highlighted that the US has been benefiting from a significant trade surplus with Australia every year since 1952. In 2024, the trade surplus was valued at USD$17.9 billion. The current two-way trade and investment relationship between the two countries is valued at over $1.6 trillion and continues to increase.
Trump also ordered the Secretary of Commerce to assess the reliance of the US on copper, timber, and lumber imports in relation to national security risk. Furthermore, he directed the US Trade Commissioner and the Secretary of Commerce to investigate non-reciprocal trade relationships with all US trading partners, and discriminatory regulations and taxes (including digital tax) put in place by foreign governments on American businesses abroad, and impose reciprocal tariffs and other actions, as necessary.
Trump additionally imposed a 25% tariff on all foreign-made automobiles and certain auto parts entering the US, effective 3 April 2025 and 3 May 2025 respectively. This action covers all passenger vehicles, light trucks, and components such as engines, transmissions, and electrical components.
Trump imposed a 25% tariff on imports from all countries that directly or indirectly source their oil from Venezuela, in response to the “unusual and extraordinary threat to national security” by actions and policies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and activities of the Tren de Aragua gang. Trump designated the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the US Trade Representative, to determine whether the said tariff will be imposed on goods from any country. This action applies to crude oil, petroleum products extracted, refined, or exported from Venezuela, regardless of the nationality of the entity involved in the production and sale of the said commodities. Should the tariff be imposed on any country, it will lapse one year after a country ceases importation of Venezuelan oil, or sooner as deemed appropriate by designated officials.
In terms of investments, Trump directed an expedited review process for inbound investment proposals from US allies and partners, while imposing stricter scrutiny from foreign adversaries like China, including Hong Kong and Macau, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba. In the same action, he ordered the Secretary of Treasury to conduct an assessment to consider expanding restrictions of US outbound investments in industries linked to China’s military or strategic goals, such as biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, AI, quantum, and aerospace, among others. He also directed the Secretary of Commerce to establish within the Department of Commerce a US Investment Accelerator office to attract and expedite investments exceeding USD 1 billion by streamlining permitting processes and reducing regulatory burdens in the federal, state, and local level. The Investment Accelerator office will also oversee the CHIPS Program Office’s negotiations with investors whose projects fall within the remit of the CHIPS Act.
Sector Specific Tariffs
(Alphabetical)
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Sector
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Action
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Rate
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Impact
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Signed
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Effective Date
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Aluminium
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Proclamation
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50%
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Increasing the tariff rate for aluminium and aluminum derivative articles imported to the US from 25% to 50%.
(UK retains 25% tariff rate due to the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal)
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3 June 2025
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4 June 2025
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Proclamation 10895
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25%
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Ending exemptions of all imports of aluminium articles and derivative aluminium articles from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, EU countries, and the United Kingdom
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11 Feb 2025
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12 Mar 2025
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Autos
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Proclamation 10908
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25%
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Passenger vehicles (sedans, sport utility vehicles, crossover utility vehicles, minivans, and cargo vans) and light trucks
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26 Mar 2025
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3 Apr 2025
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Auto Parts
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Proclamation 10908
Proclamation 10925
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25%
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Engines and engine parts, transmissions and powertrain parts, and electrical components
Offset option of 3.7% of the suggests retail price for US production from 3 April 2025 to 30 April 2026 and 2.5% of US production from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2027).
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26 Mar 2025
29 April 2025
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3 May 2025
29 April 2025
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Copper
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EO 14220
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TBD*
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Trump ordered the Secretary of Commerce to assess the national security risk related to US’ dependence on imported copper in all forms
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25 Feb 2025
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Report due on 22 Nov 2025
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Steel
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Proclamation
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50%
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Increasing the tariff rate for steel and steel derivative articles imported to the US from 25% to 50%.
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3 June 2025
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4 June 2025
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Proclamation 10896
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25%
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Ending exemptions of all imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, EU countries, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the United Kingdom
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11 Feb 2025
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12 Mar 2025
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Timber, Lumber, and Derivative Products
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EO 14223
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TBD*
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Trump ordered the Secretary of Commerce to assess the national security risk related to US’ dependence on imported timber, lumber, and derivative products
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1 Mar 2025
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Report due on 26 Nov 2025
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List of Executive Actions as of 4 June 2025
Trump on Energy, Environment, and Mineral Resources
Trump’s declaration of a national energy emergency aims to increase domestic fossil fuel production and reduce reliance on renewable energy. The administration also puts priority on expediting all permitting and regulatory requirements in mining and processing of critical minerals. Trump began to repeal regulations pertaining to energy efficiency and tailpipe emission standards, eliminated electric vehicles and electric heat pumps mandates, and terminated a policy aimed at expanding the US’ domestic capability for solar photovoltaic modules and components production.
He has reversed the ban on offshore drilling for the 625 million acres of federal waters and directed to stop leasing federal waters to offshore wind farms. He also ordered to prioritise the development of Alaska’s liquified natural gas (LNG) resources, including the sale and transport of Alaskan LNG to allied nations within the Pacific region and restart the review of new LNG export terminals.
In a separate action, Trump has established a National Energy Dominance Council, headed by the Secretary of Interior, to formulate a strategy facilitating domestic energy production through deregulation, incentives, and collaboration among federal agencies and domestic private sector partners. Trump directed the immediate approval of permits related to energy infrastructure, particularly the construction of natural gas pipelines to or in New England, California, Alaska, and other areas that are not served by American natural gas.
Trump also signed an executive order to expand production of timber by expediting permitting approvals, increasing annual timber sales target from federal lands, and reducing regulatory requirements such as those provided by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Meanwhile, Trump also directed the US Ambassador to the United Nations to submit a formal written notification of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements
Trump has issued an order to immediately approve priority projects and issue permits to boost domestic production of critical minerals. He also instructed the National Energy Dominance Council to solicit industry feedback about regulatory barriers and proposals to expedite project completion. This order also directs agencies to prioritise development of federal lands with known mineral deposits, grant financial and technical assistance to domestic investors, and utilise existing mechanisms to mobilise investments, e.g. National Security Capital Forum, Defense Production Act Fund, etc.
To accelerate development of mineral resources in the US, Trump also issued an order to rapidly build domestic capabilities to explore, map, collect, and process critical deep seabed minerals, including copper, silver, gold, cobalt, nickel, zinc, and rare earths. The action directs the Secretary of Commerce to streamline the review and approval process for exploration and commercial recovery permits under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980. The order also seeks to form joint mineral exploration and development with partners and allies in seabeds within their jurisdictions, including Exclusive Economic Zones. Furthermore, Trump also instructs the Secretary of Commerce, through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to expedite the issuance of mineral exploration licenses and permits in seabeds beyond national jurisdiction – a move that critics allege to bypass the International Seabed Authority (ISA) which is responsible for regulating deep-sea mining in international waters under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. ISA aims to finalise by July 2025 the comprehensive framework to regulate exploration and exploitation of deep seabed resources beyond national jurisdiction. ISA has neither issued any exploration license nor approved any commercial mining operations in international waters pending approval of the governing policy on responsible deep seabed mining.
In a separate issuance, Trump orders the Secretary of Commerce to investigate the impact of processed critical minerals importation on national security as aligned with Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Section 232 authorises the president to impose trade restrictions, such as tariffs, to protect national security, defence readiness, economic prosperity and resilience. The US heavily relies on foreign critical minerals and their derivative products as mining operations and processing of critical minerals and rare earths are geographically concentrated outside the US. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the US imported 72% of rare-earths compounds and metals from China from 2019 to 2022. The USGS also reported that the US was 100% dependent on imports for 12 out of 50 critical minerals in 2023 and 2024.
Australia is among the global top five producers of iron ore, gold, zinc, nickel, cobalt, and the world’s largest producer of lithium (est. 468.1 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent). The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that Australia will remain the largest producer of lithium in 2030 given brownfield expansions of major mines and several greenfield projects. The Australian Government aims to strengthen sovereign capability in critical minerals processing as outlined in the Critical Minerals Strategy 2023-2030.
Subsequent actions operationalising Trump’s national energy emergency declaration
On 8 April 2025, Trump signed actions further clarifying his administration’s agenda to ensure domestic energy security in anticipation of increased demand from investments in hyper-scale data centres and the manufacturing sector. These actions have the impact of deregulating the energy industry and reversing policies that impose environmental guardrails, including state-level carbon emission caps and compensatory payments for climate-related damages.
Trump directed the Secretary of Energy to expedite processes for issuing emergency orders to require temporary connections of facilities, generation, delivery, and transmission of electricity under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to maintain grid reliability in the event of supply shortage or intermittency. The Secretary shall also lead the assessment of the required reserve margins for all regions of the bulk power system under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and accredit critical generation resources that should remain available for dispatch within the at-risk regions.
In another executive action, Trump instructed the Attorney General to identify all state laws that impede the exploration, development, and production of energy resources, particularly oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, geothermal, biofuel, critical mineral, and nuclear energy. The Attorney General shall prioritise taking appropriate actions, including recommending any additional presidential or legislative action, to stop enforcement of laws that address climate change or involve environmental, social, and governance initiatives. Separately, Trump also ordered key agencies and subagencies with significant regulatory functions on energy projects to issue a one-year sunset rule into energy regulations, except those that are authorised by statutes, on or before 30 September 2025.
Trump also directed all executive departments and agencies to eliminate paper-based applications and streamline review processes of environmental permits for infrastructure projects, such as power plant facilities, mines, factories, roads, and bridges. He also instructed the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to consult with the National Energy Dominance Council and agencies with relevant regulatory functions in preparing a Permitting Technology Plan to modernise Federal permitting and review processes. The plan shall include a roadmap for establishing a unified permitting system to reduce friction and fragmentation across Federal departments and agencies. Trump also ordered the creation of an interagency Permitting Innovation Center, to be led by the Chairman of the CEQ, to facilitate adoption by departments and agencies of prototype software systems covering online submission and tracking of permit applications and automation of review and approval processes.
Trump declares coal as essential to national and economic security, designates coal as a “mineral” to allow the industry to access the benefits extended to the minerals industry, lifts regulatory barriers to coal mining in federal lands, and plans to rescind all policies that seek to transition the US away from coal in electricity generation. In a complementary order, Trump also allows coal power plants to delay until 8 July 2029 their compliance with the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP): Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units Review of the Residual Risk and Technology Review, 89 FR 38508, issued by the Environment Protection Agency. Initially set to take effect on 8 July 2027, 89 FR 38508 strengthens monitoring and compliance on non-mercury HAP metals and mercury emissions for existing coal power plants. Eligible facilities are coal plants without a commercially viable technology to comply with the rule on the original effective date, or plants that may be compelled to shut down operations due to the compliance timeline, hence undermining national security. During the implementation pause, coal plants will continue to comply with existing regulations pertaining to mercury and air toxic standards which are less stringent than 89 FR 38508.
Trump also issued several actions to revitalise the domestic nuclear energy industry by accelerating deployment of next-generation nuclear reactors, introducing expedited pathways for advanced nuclear reactors testing and streamlined regulatory regime for construction and environment safeguards, shifting towards commercial nuclear fuel recycling, removing blockers to private investment in advanced nuclear technologies in federal sites, boosting uranium mining and enrichment to reduce reliance on foreign sources, and pursuing workforce development programs.
According to the EIA, total energy production in the US has exceeded total energy consumption since 2019. In 2023, fossil-fuel based energy resources make up about 80% of the total US primary energy production of 102.83 quads and 83% of the total primary energy consumption of 93.59 quads. Natural gas accounted for 38% in the energy production mix, followed by petroleum at 34%, coal at 11%, renewable energy at 8%, and nuclear power at 8%. In a report released on 15 April 2025, the EIA projects lower energy consumption in 2050 than in 2024, based on a set of scenarios incorporating policies as of December 2024. The energy outlook is expected to shift given Trump’s energy policy focusing on domestic fossil-fuel expansion and regulatory rollbacks, resurgence of the manufacturing sector, and demand from AI-focused hyperscale data centres.
These presidential actions may impact global energy prices and the profitability of Australian LNG, coal, and critical mineral exports. Moreover, the rollback by the Trump administration on clean energy policies may hamper existing bilateral cooperation between the US and Australia on renewable energy and clean energy technology, particularly the Australia-United States Climate, Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transformation Compact.
Lawsuits have been filed by environmental organisations against Trump’s executive order that rescinded earlier policy withdrawing parts of the US Outer Continental Shelf from future oil and gas leasing. Alleging violations of federal transparency law, agricultural organisations have likewise challenged executive actions that resulted in the removal of climate change-related data from the Department of Agriculture website
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
In alignment with his administration’s broader energy policy agenda towards conventional energy sources, President Trump mandated agencies to immediately suspend all IRA-related funding disbursements and to review processes, policies, and programs regarding grants, loans, and other payments under the IRA. This action also rescinded policies related to the implementation of the energy and infrastructure provisions of the IRA, terminating programs such as the electric vehicle infrastructure development and offshore wind leasing and abolishing offices established under the law. The suspension of IRA-related funding creates uncertainty around joint ventures and investments that rely on the financial incentives under the IRA.
Defence and AUKUS
President Trump directed the development of a next-generation missile defence shield called “The Iron Dome for America” to protect the US against ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial attacks. The executive action also instructed the Secretary of Defense to assess opportunities to increase bilateral and multilateral cooperation with US allies in terms of missile defence technology development, provision, and operations.
Trump also signed an order to introduce reforms in the defense sales system by simplifying regulations and oversight, improving transparency and accountability, and maintaining a robust network of allies capable of burden-sharing. In this action, Trump instructed the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense to implement the United States Conventional Arms Transfer Policy of 2018 and review restrictions imposed on Category 1 items by the Missile Technology Control Regime. Category 1 items include complete rocket systems and unmanned air vehicle systems exceeding a 300km/500kg range/payload threshold, production facilities for such systems, and major sub-systems, where the most stringent guardrails are applied. Trump also ordered both secretaries to submit a proposal to Congress to update statutory congressional notification threshold of proposed sales under the Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales programs in the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.). In this order, Trump instructed the Secretary of State to identify a list of priority partners for conventional arms transfer which will share the cost of end-item production. To accelerate defence acquisition, Trump ordered a comprehensive review of all major defence acquisition programs, mandated the use of streamlined acquisition pathways, prioritizes commercial solutions, and modernises the defence acquisition workforce.
To revitalise the domestic maritime industry, Trump ordered the Assistant of the President for National Security Affairs to coordinate with key cabinet officials in formulating a Maritime Action Plan to expand the maritime industrial base through public and private investments in commercial and defence shipbuilding capabilities. Trump instructed the Secretary of Transportation to submit a legislative proposal to establish a Shipbuilding Financial Incentives Program for private sector investments in the construction of commercial components, parts, and vessels,
capital improvements to commercial vessel shipyards, vessel repair facilities, and drydocks. Trump instructed the US Trade Representative to determine any unfair trade practices by China with respect to the maritime, shipbuilding and logistics sector and enforce appropriate restriction, fee, penalty, or duty, as needed. Among penalties considered are tariffs on ship-to-shore cranes manufactured, assembled, or made using components originating from China, or manufactured by a company owned, controlled, or substantially influenced by China regardless of location. The USTR shall also engage treaty allies and partners, enjoining them to align their trade policies and to take similar actions pursued by the US to disrupt any unfair practices by China in the maritime sector.
Trump is expected to remain committed to the trilateral security partnership among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the US, given the agreement’s alignment with US strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region. AUKUS maintains strong bipartisan support in Congress, limiting unilateral amendment or termination by the Office of the President. Moreover, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed the new administration’s commitment to AUKUS as an “investment in security and stability in the region” and underscored the importance of utilising to the full extent, the US-Australia Alliance to maximise opportunities in the Indo-Pacific. In a meeting with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles held at the Pentagon on 7 February 2025, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed that the US Government remains committed to its bilateral alliance with Australia and equally supported AUKUS.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Digital Economy
President Trump revoked the policy on safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of artificial intelligence, removing ethical guardrails and federal oversight of AI development. Aligned with the broader policy on streamlining regulations, the action removed the requirement for developers of AI systems that pose risks to US national security, the economy, public health, or safety to share their safety test results with the federal government before releasing to the public. It also revoked the directive for federal agencies to set standards for testing and developing methods to detect and denote AI-generated content. President Trump also directed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to revise OMB M-24-10 and M-24-18, which both set risk management guardrails around the use of AI in federal agencies, to ensure their alignment with the current administration’s policy. Further, Trump ordered concerned government agencies to develop an AI Action Plan within 180 days from the issuance of the executive action.
President Trump also ordered the creation of a President’s Working Group on Digital Assets Market, chaired by venture capitalist David Sacks as Special Advisor for AI and Crypto, to shape the regulatory framework around cryptocurrency and blockchain. This action revoked EO 14067 of 2022 which provided consumer and investor protection safeguards against cybercrime, established a framework for international cooperation, and explored the creation of a US Central Bank digital currency, which was explicitly banned by Trump’s directive.
Among President Trump’s first executive action was to suspend for 75 days the enforcement of the law titled “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act” which sets a conditional ban against Chinese social media platform TikTok in the United States. The suspension will allow his administration to identify the appropriate action that will prevent the application’s nationwide shutdown without compromising US national security. On 4 April 2025, Trump issued another order to delay the enforcement of the Act until 19 June 2025. He further directed the Department of Justice to not take any action or impose penalties for any non-compliance committed by any entity within the period of effectiveness of the executive orders. Enacted in April 2024 and upheld by the Supreme Court in January 2025, the law prohibits companies in the US to distribute, maintain, and update TikTok unless its Chinese parent company ByteDance Ltd divests its US operations by 19 January 2025.
Federal Work Force and Government Efficiency
President Trump’s executive actions aim to significantly reshape the federal work force, modernise federal technology, and improve government efficiency policies. Under these directives, Trump ordered agencies to streamline government functions, cut unnecessary expenditures, freeze federal hiring of civilian employees, end remote work policies for federal workers, and eliminate minimum wage for federal contractors, among others. Trump also ordered the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a temporary organisation that will implement a government wide federal IT systems upgrade, including software and network infrastructure. A subsequent action in relation to DOGE, led to the large-scale reduction in the federal workforce, particularly functions that are not mandated by law, and implementation of a hiring ratio of no more than one employee for every four employees that depart an agency. Furthermore, the action directs that all hiring plans should be approved by the designated DOGE team in each agency.
Trump ordered the modernisation of payment by mandating all federal agencies to transition to an electronic payments system for all their disbursements and receipts by 30 September 2025. Exceptions from this order are granted for individuals without access to banking services or electronic payment systems; electronic disbursement that would cause undue hardship in case of certain emergency payments; activities related to national security or law enforcement where electronic transactions are not desirable; and other circumstances as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. In a complimentary directive, Trump instructed all agencies to implement a pre-certification and pre-awards verification system to ensure all disbursements made are legal, proper, and correct. This issuance also orders the Secretary of the Treasury to issue guidance to agencies on the circumstances in which data, including data for payment information verification such as health records, may be provided to the Secretary of the Treasury to detect and prevent fraud and improper payment.
To eliminate waste and duplication, Trump ordered the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to lead the formulation of a comprehensive plan consolidating procurement of all common goods and services by federal agencies. In this order, Trump also instructed the OMB to rationalise all contract vehicles for information technology across for agencies across the federal government to eliminate contract duplication and other inefficiencies. Trump ordered the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and federal agencies to simplify the Federal Acquisition Regulation by retaining only the provisions that are required by statute or that are otherwise necessary to protect economic or national security interests. In another action, Trump tasked federal agency heads to remove all unnecessary barriers to Federal employees accessing unclassified agency records, software systems, and information technology systems to support the Administration’s priorities to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.
Trump also ordered Federal agencies to prioritise commercially available products and services whenever suitable in line with the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to reduce cost and delays.
There are legal challenges against the establishment of DOGE, the corresponding delegation of decision-making authority to private citizens, and the disclosure of personal and financial records to the agency. Lawsuits were also lodged to stop the implementation of mass layoffs as well as the removal of civil service protections and due process rights of career employees.
Legal challenges were also filed against the termination of several Inspector Generals and leaders in independent federal agencies such as the Office of the Special Counsel, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Merit Systems Protections Board. Judicial actions around these complaints vary, with some judges temporarily blocking the presidential actions and some dismissing the cases.
Trump Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Security Policies
Trump declared a national emergency at the US - Mexico border, allowing deployment of military resources to tighten border security and reduce unauthorised immigration. Trump also revoked the right to invoke asylum at the border, suspended the Refugee Admissions Program, and ended birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and of parents whose presence in the US is lawful but only temporary.
Citing national security concerns, a subsequent proclamation fully restricts the entry of nationals from countries deemed to pose high risk to the US, including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Exemptions apply to lawful permanent residents and existing visa holders whose entry to the US is determined to align with the national interest. The same order partially limits entry of nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela and instructs Consular officers to reduce the validity for any non-immigrant visa issued. Restriction applies to foreign nationals of the specified countries who are outside the US and have no valid visa by 9 June 2025, the effective date of the action.
In response to legal challenges by states, civil rights groups, organised communities, and individuals, several federal judges have issued preliminary injunctions to block implementation of Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship. There are also several lawsuits filed by non-profits, religious groups, and local governments against provisions of Trump’s executive orders prohibiting non-US citizens from invoking asylum, limiting access of lawyers to detained immigrants, expansion of expedited removal of non-US citizens, defunding sanctuary cities, and suspending the US Refugee Admissions Program.
Deregulation
President Trump issued an order mandating a 10-to-1 deregulation policy, whereby federal government agencies need to revoke at least ten prior regulations for each new regulation issued. Building on the president’s policy direction to scale back regulations to facilitate innovation and economic development, the action prescribes that all new regulations will involve zero incremental cost, unless otherwise required by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Applying to a wide range of policy documents, ranging from memoranda, interagency agreements, guidance documents, and administrative orders, this action excludes regulations related to military, national and homeland security, foreign affairs, and immigration.
Trump ordered all federal agencies to take immediate steps to repeal any regulation or a portion of any regulation assessed to be unlawful, especially those that conflict with decisions of the US Supreme Court. He also instructed all heads of agencies to conduct a review of regulations that impede competition or create barriers to entry, including those that impose licensing or accreditation requirements, and submit a proposal to either rescind or amend the regulations.
In addition, President Trump issued an order to pause for 180 days the implementation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA), which prohibits US companies and individuals from making payments to foreign government officials to obtain undue advantage in their business. Trump directed the Attorney General to review and update the guidelines and policies governing investigations and enforcement actions under the law. Trump also prohibited the initiation of new FCPA investigations and enforcement actions during the review period, which the Attorney General may extend for another 180 days.
OECD Global Tax Deal
In a presidential memorandum, Trump declared that the Global Tax Deal has no force or effect within the United States unless approved by the US Congress. Negotiated under the leadership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Global Tax Deal provides a two-pillar framework to curb tax avoidance, align international tax rules, and facilitate a transparent tax environment. Pillar One reallocates a portion of the profits of multinational corporations, especially in the digital economy, to countries where their customers are located, even though these corporations have no physical presence in the jurisdictions. Pillar Two applies to multinational companies with annual global revenue of EUR750 million or more, whereby a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15% is imposed on income arising in each of the jurisdictions where they operate. With more than 140 countries supporting the landmark deal, the OECD estimates that the global minimum tax policy will reduce undertaxed profits by 80% as it is implemented across national income boundaries and tax haven structures.
Australia has implemented Pillar Two of the Global Tax Deal, following Royal Assent and Registration of Rules in December 2024, covering an Income Inclusion Rule and a Domestic Minimum Tax for fiscal years starting on or after 1 January 2024, and an Undertaxed Profits Rule for fiscal years commencing on or after 1 January 2025.
In the same presidential memorandum, President Trump directed the Treasury Department, in consultation with the US Trade Representative, to investigate compliance of foreign countries with their respective tax treaties with the United States, and whether such countries have any or are likely to implement tax measures that are extraterritorial or that may disproportionately affect American companies.
Financial Services
President Trump initiated the creation of the first US sovereign wealth fund to be financed through assets owned by the US government. He further directed the Secretary of Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce to submit within 90 days from the issuance of the action, a plan outlining the funding mechanism, investment strategies, fund structure, and governance model.
It was also reported that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a directive transmitted through a series of emails to employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to cease work, including investigations, supervision, and examination activities, and terminated newly hired and probationary employees. Established as an independent agency by the post-2008 global financial crisis under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the CFPB supervised financial institutions regarding compliance with Federal consumer financial protection laws, implemented financial education programs, and conducted investigations in response to consumer complaints, among others. The National Treasury Employees Union filed a lawsuit against this directive, citing violation of the separation of powers between the US Congress and the Executive Branch. In response, the court granted a preliminary injunction in favour of the union and ordered the OMB not to destroy any records, not to terminate any staff with respect to workforce reduction in the agency, and not to move any of CFPB money from and to its reserved funds.
Trump ordered the Secretary of Treasury to establish a federal reserve of bitcoin and other digital assets that are held by various government agencies through forfeiture proceedings or as civil money penalty. The Secretary of Treasury will lead the review of the legal and investment requirements for operationalising the order and managing the reserve.
Trump Health Policy
Trump formed the Make America Healthy Again Commission to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the underlying cause of childhood chronic diseases and potential risk of over-utilisation of medications, including serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, stimulants, and weight-loss drugs.
Chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the commission will also evaluate existing federal programs regarding nutrition, physical activity, and mental health for children, and establish a framework for ethics review and facilitate transparency around industry-funded health projects. In another presidential action, Trump directed the Department of Education and the Department of Health to formulate a plan to eliminate COVID-19 vaccine mandates in elementary and secondary schools, universities, and state and local educational agencies. Underscoring the protection of personal freedoms and parental authority, the policy also prohibited federal funding of schools and institutions that do not comply with the order. Under a separate action, Trump ordered the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a policy requiring healthcare price transparency and update regulation that will standardise price information across healthcare service providers.
To reduce drug prices for American patients, Trump instructed the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to seek comments and propose improvements to the Medicare Drug Pricing Negotiations Program and standardise Medicare payments for certain prescription drugs. He also ordered the Health Secretary to ensure allocation of future grants under the Public Health Service Act to health centres to make insulin and injectable epinephrine available below discounted price to low-income individuals.
Trump also issued a directive to the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enable pharmaceutical manufacturers to sell their products domestically at the most-favoured nation price, or the lowest price offered for a medicine in any nation, through a direct-to-consumer purchasing program. In coordination with relevant agencies, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will propose a mechanism that will allow government to impose the most-favoured nation target price to pharmaceutical manufacturers, certify to Congress the importation of low-cost prescription drugs from developed countries, and take aggressive measures to address what the Trump administration considers as anti-competitive practices.
Trump directed the Health Secretary to provide administrative and legislative recommendations to accelerate approval of generics, biosimilars, combination products, and second-in-class brand name medications, improve process by which prescription drugs can be re-classified as over-the-counter drugs, and accelerate the importation approval process under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. He also ordered the Secretary of Health to conduct joint public listening sessions with the Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce, and the Federal Trade Commission and submit recommendations to reduce anti-competitive behaviour from pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Trump has also directed the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency to expedite the approval process for domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities by streamlining reviews, eliminating overlapping regulatory requirements, and increasing inter-agency support and coordination with companies before they start operations. The action also orders the FDA to enforce stricter reporting requirements, increase inspection fees, and improve risk-based routine onsite audits of foreign pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. According to the International Trade Administration (ITA), majority foreign-owned pharmaceutical companies with US operations accounted for over USD 25 billion in biopharmaceutical exports and spent about USD 26 billion on research and development in 2022. ITA also reports that foreign direct investment (FDI) in pharmaceuticals and medicines accounted for USD 503.4 billion or 9% of the total inward FDI to the US in 2023. Several major Australian pharmaceutical companies have manufacturing operations in the US, such as CSL Behring, Mesoblast, and Telix Pharmaceuticals.
On the other hand, Trump has issued an order to end Federal funding for virology research conducted in foreign countries that do not have adequate regulatory mechanisms conforming with relevant standards and policies of the US. The executive order directs the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to review and strengthen existing regulatory mechanisms on gain-of-function research, defined by the action as “scientific research on an infectious agent or toxin with the potential to cause disease by enhancing its pathogenicity or increasing its transmissibility.”
Meanwhile, President Trump also signed an executive order initiating the process to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO), which marks a significant shift in US international health engagement. The withdrawal process will take about one year, during which a formal notification will be transmitted to the United Nations Secretary-General.
Trump Education and Research Policies
President Trump issued several presidential actions that may impact grants in the education and research sector. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released and subsequently rescinded a memo communicating to all heads of executive departments and agencies to temporarily freeze federal financial assistance programs, which cover grants extended to education and research institutions.
Despite the cancellation of the memo, institutions such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) continued to conduct a comprehensive assessment of their projects, programs, and activities to ensure compliance with the recently issued presidential actions. Moreover, federally funded research grants aimed at increasing diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics were put on hold, such as those implemented by NSF, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Institutes of Health, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Energy.
The funding pause on foreign aid and the shutdown of USAID also affected numerous research grants under the agency’s Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), which supports projects around the world on agriculture and food security, climate and energy, biodiversity and conservation, water and sanitation, and health and education. Moreover, research and educational grants funded by the federal government through nongovernmental organisations are also under review following a memorandum by Trump to ensure alignment with the administration’s policy priorities.
Fulfilling his election campaign promise, Trump issued an order to abolish the Department of Education, directing the Secretary of Education to facilitate the closure of the department and return the education to the remit of the states and local communities. In this action, Trump reiterated his instruction to terminate all federal programs that cater to diversity, equity, and inclusion and promote gender ideology.
Seven universities including the Australian National University, Monash University, University of Technology Sydney, University of New South Wales, Charles Darwin University, Macquarie University and the University of Western Australia have had their US funding cut on research projects since the Trump administration came into power, the education department confirmed.
Trump freezes over US$ 2 billion in federal funding to Harvard University after the institution refused to comply with the administration’s directives to implement reforms in its governance and admissions policies, and to terminate its DEI programs, among others. About 11% of Harvard’s operating revenue in fiscal year 2024 was derived from federal grants and was fully allocated to the university’s research initiatives. Federal funding is the largest research budget source of Harvard, allowing the university to deliver groundbreaking scientific discoveries and innovations. Harvard has research collaborations as well as student and staff exchange programs with Australian academic institutions such as the Australian University, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, and the University of New South Wales.
Subsequent presidential actions seek to align educational curriculum with key sectoral priorities such as artificial intelligence, construction, and manufacturing; reform the accreditation system for higher educational institutions to ensure compliance with federal laws and alignment with the US administration’s focus on meritocracy over DEI; mandate universities to fully and promptly disclose foreign funding, gifts, and contracts; and empower Historically Black Colleges and Universities to deliver high-quality education through enhanced federal support.
On 4 June 2025, Trump issued a proclamation which temporarily suspends and limits for a period of six months the grant of foreign visas to international students whose sole purpose of entry to the US is to study at Harvard University. The presidential action referred to Harvard’s refusal to provide sufficient information on known misconduct and criminal acts committed by international students of the institution. The proclamation also empowers the Secretary of State to determine whether to revoke the visas of existing international students at Harvard currently in the US based on alignment with the government’s national security interests. In an official statement, Harvard committed to protect its international students and considers this action as a violation to the university’s First Amendment rights.
On 23 May 2025, the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted Harvard’s motion for temporary restraining order, blocking the Trump administration’s move to revoke Harvard’s ability to enrol international students and sponsor international scholars. The court decision is in response to a lawsuit filed by Harvard after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked the institution’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility (DEIA), and Environmental Justice
President Trump terminated all diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and environmental justice mandates, programs, preferences, activities, offices, and positions across federal agencies, including the military, and encouraged the private sector to end similar practices. Under these executive orders, all federal employees working in DEI roles were placed on paid administrative leave as of 22 January 2025. These actions emphasised that federal employment practices and performance reviews shall be based on individual merit and shall not under any circumstances consider DEIA.
Rescinding Executive Order 11246 issued by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965, Trump also ordered the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) within the Department of Labor to immediately cease the promotion of diversity, enforcement of “affirmative action” among federal contractors and subcontractors and “allowing or encouraging Federal contractors and subcontractors to engage in workforce balancing based on race, colour, sex, sexual preference, religion, or national origin.”
President Trump also established a federal policy recognising only two sexes – male and female, as binary, biological, and immutable. Directing all federal agencies to use the terms “male” and “female” based on biological definitions, this action applies to official documents such as government issued identification documents including passports, visas, and Global Entry cards. The action also orders all federal agencies to remove and cease the issuance of all statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications, or other internal and external messages that promote gender ideology.
With potential violations to civil liberties, equal protection, and due process guarantees, orders eliminating DEIA-related programs, funding, and accommodations face legal challenges in various states from national associations in higher education, local government officials, to US intelligence officers assigned to DEIA roles in the respective agencies. Furthermore, active and prospective transgender service members filed lawsuits against banning transgender individuals from serving in the military. States, physicians, and transgender individuals also filed complaints before the courts against defunding gender-affirming care, housing arrangements for transgender federal inmates, passport policy reflecting two sexes as determined at conception, and banning transgender athletes in women sports.
Foreign Aid and Other Funding
Under this action, President Trump ordered the temporary suspension of US development assistance to foreign countries across various sectors for 90 days to review their full alignment with the new administration’s agenda on the economy, foreign policy, and government spending.
The order mandates the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, to oversee the comprehensive review. It also provides that the Secretary of State or his designee approves any new foreign assistance programs and obligations.
Trump also ordered all federal departments and agencies to review funding extended to nongovernmental organisations to ensure alignment with the administration’s policy agenda as outlined in the presidential actions. Furthermore, he explicitly directed that all aid funding to South Africa cease, noting the recent enactment of a law which gives authority to the State to acquire property either for public purposes or public interest.
Lawsuits against the enforcement of the federal funding freeze were lodged by attorneys general from 22 states as well as the District of Columbia, and governmental departments in Pennsylvania, citing interference to congressionally appropriated funds and violations to the Administrative Procedure Act and the First Amendment. Moreover, the American Foreign Service Association, the American Federation of Government Employees, and advocacy groups and global non-profits filed a lawsuit against stop-work orders of USAID employees, furlough of USAID contractors, and suspension of foreign aid funding.
United Nations and the International Criminal Court
President Trump ordered the withdrawal of the US from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the termination of the office of the US Representative to the intergovernmental body. He also directed to cut any form of funding by the US government to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Furthermore, Trump ordered the Secretary of State to review the membership of the US to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in relation to the organisation’s alignment with the interests of the Trump administration.
Under the same action, Trump instructed the Secretary of State to submit a comprehensive assessment of all intergovernmental organisations, conventions, and treaties to which the US is a party and recommend potential withdrawal or reform, as necessary.
President Trump has issued sanctions to the International Criminal Court in relation to the arrest warrants the international body issued to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Emphasising that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the US and Israel, Trump avowed to block property and assets, and suspend entry into the US of ICC officials, employees, and agents, and their immediate family members.
Trump Foreign Policy and International Relations
President Trump has signalled changes in its approach to foreign policy, underpinned by economic nationalism and unilateralism. His directive to withdraw from and review the membership of the US in multilateral organisations and treaties, his proposals to takeover Gaza, Greenland, Panama Canal, and Canada, and his direct engagement with Russia regarding the Russia-Ukraine war significantly pivoted the US’ position around traditional alliances and international relations. Trump also indicated a shift in the commitment of the US to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and challenged NATO allies to increase their defence spending. Meanwhile, State Secretary Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s early engagements with Australia and QUAD allies demonstrate the centrality of the Indo-Pacific in US’ security policies as regards the rapidly growing presence of the People’s Republic of China in the region. There has been no meeting scheduled between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping as of this writing.
Trump also issued an executive order that centralised foreign policy under the direct authority of the Office of the President. In this action, Trump authorised the Secretary of State to implement reforms in recruitment, performance evaluation, retention standards, and programs of the Foreign Service Institute to ensure commitment and alignment of the US diplomatic staff with the President’s foreign policy.
In a separate order, Trump rescinded a memorandum that directed all US Government departments and agencies abroad to mainstream protection of the rights of LGBTQI+ in US foreign policy and development assistance. In the same action, Trump also revoked the memorandum which aimed to strengthen diversity and inclusion by sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, and economic, regional, and immigrant backgrounds, including at senior levels, in the foreign policy and national security workforce.
Global Entry for Australian Citizens
Australians are now able to apply for the Global Entry Program through US Customs and Border Protection. The program facilitates faster immigration and customs clearance for pre-approved Australians entering the US. The Global Entry Program will be implemented in a phased approach. Phase one will be limited to 1,000 applicants. Further information can be found here.
While President Trump has not issued a specific action related to the Global Entry Program, his administration’s broader immigration and border security policies may impact trusted travel programs such as Global Entry. Applicants may be required to go through a more stringent vetting process and background checks for Global Entry membership.
CHIPS and Science Act
Although President Trump called for the repeal of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (CHIPS Act) during his Joint Address to the US Congress on 4 March 2025, he has ordered the Secretary of Commerce to create an Investment Accelerator office within the Department of Commerce to administer the CHIPS Program Office in its negotiations with investors. The CHIPS Act provides financial incentives to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity and reduce reliance on foreign supplies, especially from China.
EDITORS' NOTE: The Trump administration has issued a record number of executive orders, some of which face legal challenges. AmCham will regularly keep this site updated as new information becomes available.