Trump’s budget fiction: Counting trade deals before they’re made

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On Monday, the Trump administration unveiled its 2020 budget proposal. As Philip Klein pointed out, it relies on imaginary savings and unrealistic expectations of economic growth. But why does the Trump administration think the economic outlook is so much better than others, including the Congressional Budget Office, have estimated? Part of that rosy outlook for growth likely has to do with yet-to-be-made trade deals.

Indeed, Trump has repeatedly talked up his belief that trade deals, such as the always just-around-the-corner agreement with China, would boost the market and do wonders for growth:

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