After The Fact

America First Policies Target Foreign Investment, Trade, and Domestic Industries

February 21, 2025

A series of policy announcements and directives from the Trump Administration focus on promoting American economic interests, tightening national security, and reshaping international relations. Key themes include restricting foreign investment from adversaries (especially China), bolstering domestic industries, and countering perceived unfair trade practices. These actions aim to strengthen American competitiveness, protect sensitive technologies, and reassert American sovereignty in economic and global affairs. Several of the policies restrict trade and investments with China, furthering Project 2025 goals.

America First Investment Policy

Restricts investment from foreign adversaries, particularly China, in critical technologies, infrastructure, data, and other sensitive areas.

Facilitates investment from allies and partners, creating a "fast-track" process based on objective standards.

Expedites environmental reviews for investments over $1 billion.

Establishes new rules to stop U.S. companies from investing in industries that advance China's military capabilities and prevents Chinese entities from acquiring critical American businesses.

Strengthens the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) authority over "greenfield" investments, expands its remit on technology, and restricts foreign adversary access to U.S. talent in sensitive sectors.

Reduces the use of "mitigation" agreements for investments from foreign adversary countries and directs resources towards facilitating investments from key partners.

Welcomes passive investments (non-controlling stakes) from all foreign persons.

Deters U.S. persons from investing in China's military-industrial sector, potentially through sanctions and other actions, including review and potential expansion of existing executive orders.

Reviews the U.S.-China Income Tax Convention for potential suspension or termination.

Examines financial auditing standards for foreign companies, reviews variable interest entity structures, and seeks to restore fiduciary standards to prevent investment in foreign adversary companies.

Protecting American Innovation and Countering Unfair Trade

The administration aims to defend American companies from unfair fines, penalties, and taxes imposed by foreign governments.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) will investigate and respond to Digital Services Taxes (DSTs) from various countries, including potential renewal of existing investigations and initiating new ones.

The USTR, Treasury, and Commerce departments will jointly identify discriminatory trade practices against American companies.

The administration will investigate practices impacting freedom of speech and content moderation.

Tariffs or other responsive actions will be imposed on foreign governments employing discriminatory tactics against American businesses. The administration will further reduce incentives for U.S. persons to invest in foreign adversaries.

Departmental Achievements and Policy Focus

Several departments touted their accomplishments in line with the "America First" agenda, including Homeland Security (border security), Interior (energy independence and public lands), Education (school choice), Housing and Urban Development (affordable housing), State (foreign policy), Transportation (deregulation), Defense (military strength), and Health and Human Services (opposing "radical gender ideology").

Border Patrol encounters with illegal immigrants have decreased significantly, attributed to increased border security efforts. This is aligned with previous Trump administration priorities.

Last updated at 2/22/2025 6:40 AM

- After The Fact Editorial Team