Donald Trump’s views on business issues, in his own words
Donald Trump built his campaign on his experience in the business world, framing his outsider candidacy as the antidote needed to cure what he described as an ailing economy.
But at times, he has provided few details on how exactly he would turn things around. Here’s what Trump has said in the past on key business and economic issues.
Trade
Trump has staked his candidacy on the promise of establishing trade policies that he says will put America first. Core to that message is his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed Pacific trade deal between 12 nations.
In a speech at the Republican National Convention in July, Trump said the Trans-Pacific Partnership would “destroy our manufacturing” and would “make America subject to the rulings of foreign governments.”
“I pledge to never sign any trade agreement that hurts our workers or that diminishes our freedom or our independence,” he said in the speech. “We will never, ever sign these trade deals.”
Trump has also said he will “renegotiate” the North American Free Trade Agreement, a trade pact between the U.S., Mexico and Canada that he has called the “the worst trade deal ever approved in this country.”
He has also called for a renegotiation of trade deals with China.
In an interview with the New York Times editorial board in January, Trump said he would support a tax on products coming in from China.
“I would do a tax. And the tax, let me tell you what the tax should be … the tax should be 45%,” he said.
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Healthcare
Trump has repeatedly slammed the Affordable Care Act throughout the campaign, but has released few details on how he would deal with rising healthcare costs, other than saying he will reduce regulation of health insurance.
During a rally in Pennsylvania last week, Trump told supporters that “Obamacare has to be replaced, and we will do it very quickly.”
“If we don’t repeal and replace, we will destroy American healthcare forever,” he said.
Taxes
During his speech at the Republican National Convention, Trump said he would reduce taxes, which would “cause new companies and new jobs to come roaring back into our country.”
“Middle-income Americans and businesses will experience profound relief, and taxes will be greatly simplified for everyone. And I mean everyone,” he said in July.
On his campaign website, Trump’s tax proposal states that, among other things, it would consolidate seven tax brackets into three, repeal the estate tax and lower the business tax rate to 15% from 35%.
Technology
The president-elect’s hard-line stance on restricting immigration helped catapult him to victory in the Republican primaries, but it alienated him from many, including those in the tech industry. Silicon Valley relies on many foreign workers and companies have long pushed for immigration reform.
“It’s our right, as a sovereign nation, to choose immigrants that we think are the likeliest to thrive and flourish and love us,” Trump said in August while describing his plan for immigration.
Trump has said he wants to bring back U.S. manufacturing jobs — an idea many tech companies see as unfeasible because of lower costs overseas.
When federal prosecutors criticized tech giant Apple Inc. this year for refusing to help unlock an iPhone used by one of the shooters in the San Bernardino terrorist attack, Trump rebuked the company.
“What I think you ought to do is boycott Apple until such time as they give that security number,” he said to a crowd in South Carolina in February.
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