Government Shutdown Raises Questions About Status of U.S. Trade Deals

The normally gridlocked traffic in the nation’s capital was notably lighter on Wednesday morning.

Stalled Senate negotiations on federal funding prompted a government shutdown that took effect at midnight, with lawmakers from both parties unable to reach a consensus about Affordable Care Act subsidies, a Democratic imperative. Now, the lights are off across Washington, with no end to the détente in sight.

The shutdown comes at a critical moment for the nation. The Trump administration’s revised “reciprocal” tariff rates, announced in late July, have been in effect for just under two months. Congressional challenges to the president’s authority are now on hold.

What’s more, two critical trade preference programs — the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act ( AGOA ) and Haiti HOPE-HELP — lap