24 January, 2017

 Following a rocky post-inauguration weekend, the markets began to discount the initial policy contours of the Trump administration on its first working day and there was a lot to take in. Monday started off with an announcement that President Trump would take steps to initiate discussion about NAFTA and also announced plans to meet with leaders of the two countries. Trump also signed an executive order withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, pretty much a moot point at this stage, as it did not gain much traction anyway and was not even presented to Congress. He also got together with business and labor leaders to discuss manufacturing issues where he reiterated to various CEOs assembled there that he would impose a hefty border tax on imports into the US. He met with Congressional leaders of both parties as well, but the meeting is usually a perfunctory step on the agenda of all new presidents and more often than not, marks the high-water mark of the relationship. Later this week, Trump meets with Prime-Minister May of the UK and the Israeli Prime-Minister also visits in early February.