World

Donald Trump will be the next US President. But what are his actual policies?

It’s actually going to happen. Donald J Trump will be the next President of the United States.

He may have been full of bluster on the campaign trail, but where does he actually stand on the key issues? We’ve taken a closer look at his policies to see what America might have in store.

Economy

(Mark Lennihan/AP)

The economy is always one of the biggest issues in any election – and that was as true this year as ever. America has just climbed out of a deep recession and more higher paid jobs are required.

Trump is promising 25 million new jobs through what he calls a “pro-growth tax plan” that he claims will reduce taxes for all income groups. He’s promised taxes will drop up to 35% for some married couples depending on their earnings and childcare costs.

As far as trade deals go, Trump is against the contentious Trans-Pacific Partnership, which aims to deepen economic ties between 12 countries by cutting tariffs and fostering trade to boost economies.

The campaign has also said it would renegotiate terms on Nafta – the North American Free Trade Agreement – and pull out if partners refuse to give the government the deal it wants.

His policies get even more hawkish when it comes to China. According to his campaign website, Trump will declare China a currency manipulator and treat it harshly as a result, raising tariffs and taxes on imports for the country.

Foreign policy

(Manu Brabo/AP)

Another hawkish approach here. Trump wants to increase America’s military capabilities as a show of strength to the rest of the world.

He has also pledged military action against Isis, working with “Arab allies and friends” to fight the insurgency in Iraq and Syria. He has compared the ideological battle against Islamic terrorism to the Cold War and says his government will beat them in the same way.

He has also expressed interest in working with Russia towards this goal, saying the two nations could find “common ground” in the fight against Isis.

Immigration

(David Goldman/AP)

Trump has declared in his manifesto that he’ll suspend immigration from “dangerous and volatile” regions of the world and create new ideological screening procedures like the US had in the Cold War era.

That infamous wall looks like it’s going to get built. It’s the first point on his 10-point plan to “put America first”.

It will be an “impenetrable physical wall” on the southern border which, Trump says, Mexico will pay for. He has also committed to triple the number immigration and customs enforcement officers.

Energy

(Eric Gay/AP)

Trump’s main energy policy is for the US to become energy independent. This entails exploiting the country’s vast shale gas, oil and natural gas resources by making it easier for companies practising “responsible” energy production to extract them.

He’ll open up federal areas, both onshore and offshore, to energy producers for leasing – something the Obama administration has tightly restricted over his eight years in office.

(Charlie Riedel/AP)

He hasn’t yet specified what his idea of responsible is, so we’ll have to wait and see. However, he says his energy policies will create half a million jobs and lower the cost of energy for Americans.

Looking at his policy platform so far, Trump doesn’t seem too bothered about the environment. However, he has said he’ll “encourage” the use of natural gas to lower emissions.