The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has canceled a multi-year investigation into the impact of trade policy on under-served communities and workers, following a request from the Trump administration.
The ITC, an independent federal agency, informed witnesses that it was canceling a hearing on trade’s racial and diversity impacts after the U.S. Trade Representative’s office withdrew its request for the broader study. Reuters obtained a copy of the email.
The agency had planned six virtual hearings and in-person discussions in five U.S. cities from March to May. The study, originally requested by former U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai in January 2023, was scheduled for completion in 2026.
The ITC and the White House have not responded to requests for comment.
Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump has ended all federal work on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs through executive orders.
Arthur Stamoulis of the Citizens Trade Campaign, which opposed NAFTA 30 years ago, called the decision disappointing but unsurprising. The study aimed to examine how job losses from offshoring and supply chain shifts disproportionately affect people of color.
“We have not seen the Trump administration prioritize workers, and its trade policy is fueling an anti-immigrant agenda,” Stamoulis said.
Trump officials argue that DEI initiatives waste money and discriminate against white people.
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