Trump Signs Order to Strengthen “Buy American” for Infrastructure

President Trump signed an executive order today intended to boost the use of American-made iron, steel and other manufactured products in infrastructure projects by adding pressure on private and public sector entities that receive federal financial assistance.

Called “Strengthening Buy American Preferences for Infrastructure Projects,” the order directs agency heads to “encourage recipients of new federal financial assistance to use, to the greatest extent practicable, iron and aluminum, as well as steel, cement, and other manufactured products produced in the United States,” said White House trade advisor Peter Navarro. While the measure will “reinforce this administration’s Buy American preferences” by “providing strong presidential guidance,” he said, it does not include mandatory provisions, enforcement mechanisms or specific purchasing targets.