The U.S. International Trade Commission has abruptly ended a crucial study on trade, following a request from the Trump administration. The investigation, which aimed to examine the impact of trade policy on under-served communities and workers, was canceled by the independent federal agency. Scheduled hearings on the racial and diversity impacts of trade were also called off after the U.S. Trade Representative’s office withdrew its request for the broader study. This decision was relayed to witnesses via email, as reported by Reuters.
Initially, the ITC had organized a series of virtual hearings on the issue, focusing on topics such as persistent poverty in rural and urban areas. In addition to virtual sessions, in-person discussions were planned to take place in five U.S. cities between March and May. Despite multiple attempts to reach out for comments, neither the ITC nor the White House responded immediately.
Since assuming office on January 20, President Donald Trump has halted all federal efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs through a series of executive orders and memorandums. The study in question was originally requested by Katherine Tai, the former U.S. Trade Representative under President Joe Biden, in January 2023. The agency had set a deadline to complete the report by January 2026.
Arthur Stamoulis, representing the Citizens Trade Campaign, expressed disappointment over the decision to halt the probe, citing similarities to previous actions taken by the Trump administration. The study aimed to shed light on how job losses resulting from off-shoring and supply chain decisions disproportionately affect people of color, providing valuable insights for policymakers.
Stamoulis criticized the Trump administration for what he perceived as a lack of prioritization of workers’ interests and the utilization of trade policy to advance an anti-immigrant agenda. Officials in the Trump administration have contended that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are costly and can lead to discrimination against white individuals.
Andrea Shalal reported on this development for Reuters, with editing by Christopher Cushing.
