US pushes for global signatories for ‘trade over aid’ initiative
US President Donald Trump's administration is urging countries across the globe to sign a new global trade initiative that calls for the dismantling of the global aid system in favour of trade and investments.
According to a cable reviewed by Washington Post sent on Wednesday to all US embassies and consular posts, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered American diplomats to issue an official call to action to foreign nations that asks for their support before the US initiative is set to be unveiled at the United Nations at the end of April.
Titled the “trade over aid” initiative, the move aims to pull back from humanitarian assistance and pushes to promote "America First values and create business opportunities for U.S. companies", Rubio’s directive said as quoted by The Post.