The Pitfalls of Protectionism: Why Biden Should Abandon “Buy American” The Pitfalls of Protectionism: Why Biden Should Abandon “Buy American” March 15, 2021 In the lead-up to his inauguration, President Biden pledged to reverse course on many of his predecessor’s unwelcome policies. To some extent, he has already done so, having signed a slew of executive orders in just his first month in office. However, when it comes to trade policy, Biden has not as readily corrected the errors of the Trump administration. His adherence to Trump’s misguided trade agenda is reflected in the recent White House “Executive Order on Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers,” which strengthened the laws requiring the federal government to buy products from U.S.-based companies. Simply put, Biden’s consolidated “Buy American” laws will further ingrain the dangerous protectionism that Trump spearheaded, promoting unsustainable trade barriers over long-term economic gains.