Key facts
- Oren Cass, a leading voice in the U.S. "New Right," said the movement has achieved policy victories during Trump's second term.
- Cass stated the U.S. will not return to promoting free trade.
- Cass criticized the lack of clarity on Trump's policy toward China.
Oren Cass, a policy strategist closely associated with President Donald Trump's administration and a prominent figure in the U.S. "New Right" movement, asserted that the United States will not return to promoting free trade. Cass indicated that the movement has secured policy successes during Trump's second term, particularly in the areas of trade and immigration. However, he also pointed to a lack of clarity regarding the administration's specific policy approach toward China.
Experts at the Council on Foreign Relations noted in January 2026 that the Trump administration's trade policies, including tariff threats, have largely left the trade landscape intact, with firms front-loading the economy to mitigate impacts. They anticipate another volatile year for trade, characterized by the erosion of trade agreements, the effects of tariffs on affordability, and potential limits on executive power in trade policy. The administration has exempted some household goods from tariffs, but persistent affordability concerns could prompt further relief measures. The CFR experts also highlighted that Congress has a minimal role in current trade policy, making it heavily reliant on the White House, and that the Supreme Court's ruling on Trump's use of emergency tariffs would soon clarify the limits of presidential trade powers.
Edward Alden, a CFR senior fellow, suggested that U.S. trade actions in 2026 could be anticipated by following the money, noting that despite promises to revitalize manufacturing, the administration has selectively exempted wealthy industries like big tech and big oil from tariffs. Thomas Bollyky and Elena Every, also of CFR, observed that in 2025, President Trump utilized trade tools to address prescription drug prices, aiming to lower them domestically, raise them abroad, and encourage manufacturing in the U.S. While this led to deals with foreign governments and drug manufacturers, the specifics of many commitments remain undisclosed and voluntary. They will be monitoring in 2026 whether these trade deals effectively lower U.S. medicine costs and reverse the pharmaceutical trade deficit, which had been growing annually.