Trump Opens Door for Bribing Foreign Governments for Contracts, Rolls Back Anti-Corruption Law

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed several executive orders, including one that potentially opens the door for American citizens and corporations to bribe foreign governments in order to secure contracts abroad. According to foreign media reports, Trump signed an executive order compelling the Department of Justice to halt enforcement of a 1934 law that prohibited American companies from bribing foreign officials to obtain financial benefits.

The executive order specifically instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi to temporarily suspend the enforcement of this law until new guidelines are issued. As a result, U.S. citizens and companies will no longer face legal consequences for bribing foreign officials to secure business deals abroad.

President Trump argued that anti-corruption measures had hindered U.S. businesses by making it nearly impossible to conduct business deals in foreign countries without violating laws. He suggested that bribery was often considered a normal part of business in many countries.

With Trump’s order, foreign officials who engage in bribery will be immune from U.S. Justice Department actions. Additionally, the Department of Justice will now review all past and present anti-corruption actions.

In another major move, President Trump announced the imposition of a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum. Speaking to journalists, he also mentioned that tariffs on cars, electronic chips, and pharmaceuticals are under consideration, and that retaliatory tariffs would be imposed in the next two days. Trump stated that he would not object if other countries retaliate with their own tariffs.