Subject: Blue Star Brief: February 2017
From: "Blue Star Strategies" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2017 09:12:49 -0600

http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2483

http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2483

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http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2483

Blue Star Brief February 2017

View it in your browser <http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2484>

http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2485

Blue Star Strategies is a global strategic consulting, public affairs,
and government relations firm, based in Washington, DC with offices in
Europe and Latin America. We work with public and private sector
partners to help solve their business and policy challenges in the
United States and in emerging markets around the world.

U.S. Government Transition

With the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 45th president of the
United States on January 20, 2017, a new U.S. administration continues
to take shape.

President Trump has announced his nominations
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2486>
for all but one (Council of Economic Advisers Chair) of the appointed
members of his presidential cabinet as well as senior level Executive
branch positions  that must be confirmed by the Senate.

To date, the eight appointees
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2487>who
have been confirmed
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2488> so
far are:

Attorney General-Jeff Sessions
Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A.) Director-Mike Pompeo
Secretary of Defense-Gen. James Mattis
Secretary of Education-Betsy DeVos
Secretary of Homeland Security-Gen. John Kelly
Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs)-Rex Tillerson
Secretary of Transportation-Elaine Chao
United Nations Ambassador-Nikki Haley

Since taking office, President Trump's brief tenure has been punctuated
by a number of unilateral presidential directives
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2489>,
including executive orders
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2490>
and memoranda. Historically, such actions have been used by all
presidents
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2491>
to declare government policy by giving guidance to federal agencies on
how they should operate. Presidents have also issued such orders to
revoke or otherwise reverse those actions of their predecessors.
However, while these actions are legally binding, they cannot be used
to create new laws or reverse previous laws. In contrast to legislation
passed by Congress which is far broader in scope, executive actions are
typically more limited and targeted in their reach. Further, any
executive order whose implementation requires new funding will, by
necessity, also require Congressional oversight and legislative
approval.

Some of President Trump's executive actions
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2492> have
perhaps not been surprising in light of his campaign promises, such as
rolling back President Obama's regulatory agenda, withdrawing the U.S.
from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, and impacting
implementation of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama's signature
health care initiative. However, other such actions have been seen as
highly controversial, in terms of both policy as well as process. These
include his January 27 action to temporarily suspend
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2493>
entry to the U.S. by citizens of seven Muslim majority nations and
related reports that actions were planned
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2494> quietly
and without consultation and legal review by relevant Executive branch
stakeholders and department agencies, including newly confirmed cabinet
members. As a result, a number of these actions are under criticism from
both Democratic and Republican Party leaders, State Department
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2495>
officials, and civil society organizations as well as through protests,
state attorneys general lawsuits, and other legal and policy challenges.

To buttress his executive directives, President Trump has reiterated or
otherwise signaled his intent to pursue a variety of specific policies
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2496>,
which include renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement,
canceling or replacing the Affordable Care Act, reshaping immigration
and border enforcement policies, and approving oil and gas pipelines.

As expected, the Trump administration portends a number of new as well
as previously uncharted approaches to both U.S. domestic and foreign
policy. As the new administration, leadership, and policies of President
Trump continue to take shape, we will be tracking developments, reaching
out to our contacts, and look forward to sharing additional insights
with you.

With best regards,

The Blue Star Strategies Team

Above: The White House welcomed Donald J. Trump as the 45th president of
the United States. 

Insight and Analysis

Blue Star Strategies and our partners bring seasoned perspective to our
work across diverse industry sectors, which inform our strategic
consulting and advocacy services
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2497>.

Mexico's Energy Sector Reform

Amanda Valdez of Dentons Lopez Velarde based in Mexico City charts
emerging opportunities for foreign investors based on the country's
reforming energy sector.

Click here to read the full article...
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2498>

Can Trade Agreements Be Renegotiated?

Newly inaugurated President Trump has said that his administration will
renegotiate multilateral trade agreements such as NAFTA and others. Blue
Star looks at what such an approach entails.

Click here to read the full article...
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2499>

Brexit Update

James Le Grice of Insight Consulting Group based in London shares an
update on Brexit and focusing on Prime Minister May's efforts to recast
Britain's relationships with the U.S. and the EU.

Click here to read the full article...
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2500>

Tips and Recommendations

Blue Star Strategies works with diverse clients around the world
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2501>  and
is committed to the pursuit of learning and growth from our many
enriching relationships and partnerships
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2502>.

Arts and Culture...

What We're Reading

Blue Star recommends...

The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2503>,
by artist Jacob Lawrence now at The Phillips Collection in Washington,
DC through April 23.

Part of a 60 panel exhibition
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2504> exploring the impact
of the Great Migration
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2505>, the
mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban
North and West that began in 1910.

The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture
Jacob Lawrence
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2506> at
the The Phillips Collection <http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2507>

And don't miss...

Matisse/Diebenkorn <http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2508>,
a beautiful exhibition appearing next in San Francisco
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2509>,
illuminating the artistic interplay between Henri Matisse and Richard
Diebenkorn.

Karen Tramontano recommends...

The Sympathizer
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2510>:
A Novel, by Viet Thanh Nguyen.

"I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces..."

Winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the author
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2511>-a Vietnamese-
American refugee-of this thrilling spy novel explores dual identify
and the complexity of the Vietnam-U.S. war.

Karen Tramontano Addresses Fair Labor Association Board
Outlines New Approach to International Trade and Global Labor Rights

Blue Star Strategies professionals are active in our community
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2512>
and provide
regular commentary and analysis
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2513> on
television, online, and in print.

At a time when political leaders are actively seeking new approaches to
international trade, Karen Tramontano
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2514>
recently published an innovative proposal
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2515> for
addressing this challenge.

Karen continued to outline her vision in a recent interactive discussion
at the annual Board of Directors meeting of the Fair Labor Association
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2516>, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated
to protecting workers' rights around the world.

Click here
<http://bluestarstrategies.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=f797e4de93fad07daa4579d8807c5ce9&i=76A99A2A2517>
to read Karen's latest op-ed in The Hill that urges Congress to demand
that President Trump bring improved worker protections to any proposed
NAFTA renegotiation.

Photo: Karen (far right) addresses the FLA's board meeting in
Washington, DC.

Copyright © Blue Star Strategies, LLC

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Blue Star Strategies, LLC
Solving the complex problems facing today's
global businesses, governments, and organizations.

Washington, DC, USA ▪ Buenos Aires, Argentina ▪ Hanoi, Vietnam ▪ 
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Blue Star Strategies USA
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Blue Star Strategies
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+54 11 5238 5510

Our Name
We named our firm after the Native American Hopi tradition which
teaches that when the
Blue Star appears, it will provide answers to global challenges
confronting us today. Our
name signifies our commitment to pursue truth and excellence until the
star appears. We
work with companies, leaders, and partners who understand these
challenges and drive the
solutions that will bring about a better and more integrated world
community.
    
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