Derek Reinbold  //  4/2/17  //  Topic Update

The Trump Administration’s reduced commitment to human rights internationally will hurt American foreign policy, cautions Julia Sherman on Take Care.

• At Lawfare, Ingrid Wuerth notes that the Trump Administration has complied with international law thus far.

President Trump's proposed cuts to the State Department budget would be irresponsible, short-sighted, and harmful to U.S. foreign policy, writes Rep. Joaquin Castro at The Hill.

• At Just Security, Alexandra Bell describes the proposed State Department cuts as “national security malpractice.”

At Just Security, Oona Hathaway gives possible explanations for the recent rise in civilian casualties in Iraq and Syria (Just Security).

The United States has spoken out against a United Nations effort to ban nuclear weapons, joining other major powers in their protest (WaPo).

• The U.S. should use this opportunity to evaluate its position on the use of nuclear weapons, argue Lt. Col. Ted Richard and Sean Watts at Just Security.

Trump signed two executive orders concerning abusive trade practices contributing to the U.S. trade deficit and the collection of duties from countries believed to be selling products below their cost of production in the U.S. (WaPo, NYT).

In a draft letter to Congress, the Trump administration outlined modest changes to NAFTA, in spite of President Trump’s earlier rhetoric lambasting the deal (WSJ).

• Critics have compared this proposal to the defunct TPP deal negotiated by the Obama administration.

On Sunday, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt called the Paris Agreement on climate change a “bad deal” (The Hill).

After the United States failed to appear before hearings at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights last week, Johanna Kalb questioned whether the Trump Administration believes in the rule of law (Brennan Center for Justice).

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