International Relations Researches

International Relations Researches

Political Economy of the United States during Trump’s Second Term: Continuation of Protectionism Domestically and Challenges to the Environment

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Political science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Razi University, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Razi University, Kermanshah, Ira
10.22034/irr.2026.570142.2817
Abstract
The presidency of Donald Trump during his two terms represents a pivotal point in the transformation of the political economy of the United States and its relationship with the global order. With the slogan “America First,” Trump not only directed the country’s economic orientation towards protectionism and the reproduction of economic nationalism but also adopted a critical stance towards environmental norms and international climate commitments. This approach marks a significant shift from multinational cooperation-based logic to a policy focused on domestic interests driven by power competition. Examples of this include the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, criticism of climate change, and cuts to the budgets of environmental agencies. The main question of this research is what relationship exists between Trump’s conceptual framework of economic protectionism and the neglect of internal environmental issues in the United States. The hypothesis of the study posits that the neoliberal mercantilist framework of the Trump administration, emphasizing positive trade balances and an increase in worker-centered domestic production, has led to a weakening and disregard for both domestic and international environmental rules and commitments. Trump prioritized increasing domestic production in industrial sectors and energy extraction. The findings indicate that Trump’s neoliberal mercantilist policies, by prioritizing economic growth and industrial independence, have resulted in the undermining of the United States’ environmental commitments both domestically and globally. This study is conducted using a descriptive-analytical methodology
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 30 April 2026