President Donald Trump on July 26 directed the U.S. trade representative to seek changes at the World Trade Organization that would prevent rich countries from claiming benefits reserved for developing countries in WTO agreements.

President Donald Trump, who had threatened a tariff on Guatemalan goods (see 1907230024), told reporters at the White House that Guatemala had agreed to let foreigners who are seeking asylum in the U.S. apply for that protection from Guatemala. The deal would cover Hondurans, Cubans, Africans -- anyone who is traveling through Guatemala on their way to the southern border of the U.S. If migrants do not apply in Guatemala, but try to apply when they reach the U.S., they would automatically be denied refuge.

President Donald Trump tweeted in the morning July 26 that the U.S. would "announce a substantial reciprocal action on Macron’s foolishness shortly. I’ve always said American wine is better than French wine!" Trump, who was angry about the digital services tax France put on what he called "our great American technologies companies," reportedly does not drink alcohol. Later in the day, a White House spokesman issued a statement that said: “The United States is extremely disappointed by France’s decision to adopt a digital services tax at the expense of U.S. companies and workers. France’s unilateral measure appears to target innovative U.S. technology firms that provide services in distinct sectors of the economy. It also demonstrates France’s lack of commitment to the ongoing [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)] negotiations. The Trump Administration has consistently stated that it will not sit idly by and tolerate discrimination against U.S.-based firms. The U.S. Trade Representative has already launched a Section 301 investigation into France’s digital services tax, and the Administration is looking closely at all other policy tools.” Wine was already on the proposed tariff list to compensate for Airbus subsidies (see 1904090031).

President Donald Trump appeared to put the kibosh on Apple’s requests for List 3 Section 301 tariff exclusions on Chinese imports of graphics processing modules, power supplies, heat sinks and a dozen other types of components for the Mac Pro desktop due this fall. Tweeted Trump on July 26: “Apple will not be given Tariff waiver, or relief, for Mac Pro parts that are made in China. Make them in the USA, no Tariffs!” There are “no other sources” outside China “for this proprietary, Apple-designed component,” Apple said in each of the 15 product exclusion requests it filed July 18, as searchable on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative public docket. “This product is a component of a consumer electronic device,” Apple said. “It is not strategically important or related to ‘Made in China 2025' or other Chinese industrial programs.” Public responses in support or opposition to the exclusion requests are due Aug. 1, and Apple had few backers among those who weighed in with an opinion as of July 26. “The USTR should not set a harmful precedent of exempting companies from tariffs that move jobs to an overt adversary of the United States,” commented Gregory Lewandowski on Apple’s request for tariff exclusions on Mac Pro graphics processing modules. “This is absolute garbage,” commented Logan Marotz. “We cannot continue to bend to the will of these companies. They knew the possible consequences of their actions by moving their assembly factories over seas. Tough luck, but this is the game they play.” Apple didn’t comment, nor did USTR.

President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters as he signed a bill sending more money for migrant housing, said tariffs on Mexico are now off the table. When a reporter asked if his original idea was to reassess whether Mexico was doing enough before deciding if the tariff threat was no longer needed, Trump said, "yeah, if they don't do it," the tariff could come into play, but he immediately added: "They're doing a good job. Right now, they're doing a very good job. We're very happy with the job they're doing." Trump said the added enforcement at the Guatemala-Mexico border and the U.S.-Mexico border on the Mexican side is cutting the numbers of Central American migrants way down, and that makes Mexicans happy as well.

President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters over the weekend, said tariffs are "obviously doing very well because we’re taking in billions and billions of dollars from China. We would be from others, and we might be from others, but billions of dollars are coming in from China. And, frankly, look at what’s happening with the stock market, which is pretty much what I’ve been saying.

"Also, an article came out this morning that the tariffs are having very little effect on costs going up -- and, in some cases, no effect. That the countries that the products come from, they are bearing the costs, which is also what I’ve said."

President Donald Trump, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by his side, expressed optimism that the House of Representatives would approve the new NAFTA, and also implied that there will be no more national security tariffs levied on either neighbor. He said Mexico's president has "substantially slowed down" migration across Mexican territory. "It's already had a big impact," he said.

Trade negotiations will resume with China ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, Trump tweeted June 18. He said he and Xi "will be having an extended meeting next week at the G-20 in Japan." The White House said the two leaders talked on that morning about "structural barriers to trade with China and achieving meaningful reforms that are enforceable and verifiable."

President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing all federal departments and agencies to eliminate one-third of their current Federal Advisory Committee Act-authorized committees by Sept. 30. The order limits the total government-wide number of advisory committees to 350. Eliminated committees should include those found to deal with subject matters that have “become obsolete,” have accomplished their stated objectives, have primary functions “that have been assumed by another entity” or that the agency finds have a “cost of operation [that’s] excessive in relation” to their “benefits to the Federal Government.” Agencies can count committees already eliminated since Trump entered office in January 2017 toward their quota. Agency heads can seek a waiver of the requirement if OMB concludes “it is necessary for the delivery of essential services, for effective program delivery, or because it is otherwise warranted by the public interest.” All agency heads will need to submit recommendations by Aug. 1 to OMB for eliminating committees. OMB will recommend which committees to eliminate by Sept. 1.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said it's too speculative to say whether the imposition of tariffs on List 4 of Section 301 goods from China might be put on hold after President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet at the G-20 summit at the end of June. In fact, Ross told Bloomberg TV June 13 that it's not clear whether the two will share just a brief conversation, or a dinner. "We don't know for sure there will be a meeting," he said.