Trump’s first 100 days of ‘profound change’

WASHINGTON // President Donald Trump marked his 100th day in office yesterday by saying he had brought “profound change” to Washington and reaffirming that “my only allegiance” is to those he governs.

On an evening trip to Pennsylvania, one of the states that propelled his election victory, Mr Trump planned to sign an executive order directing the commerce department and the US trade representative to conduct a study of trade pacts.

He said he wanted to determine whether the US was being treated fairly by its trading partners and the 164-nation World Trade Organisation.

Mr Trump was due to visit the Ames tool factory in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, which has made spades since 1774, then hold a campaign-style rally in Harrisburg, the state capital.

The president announced last week that he intended to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and be- gin reworking a trade deal with South Korea, with which the US has a significant trade deficit.

Early in his tenure, Mr Trump used an executive order to withdraw the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal negotiated by Barack Obama.

“From the first day of my administration, I have governed by a simple idea: my only allegiance is to you, our wonderful citizens,” he said in his weekly radio and internet address. “Together we are seeing great achievements are possible when we put American People first.

“That is why I withdrew the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. That day was a turning point for our nation. It put the countries of this world on notice that the sell-out of the American worker was over.”

Orders due to be signed yesterday were to be his 31st and 32nd – more than any president in his first 100 days since the Second World War.