US President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies and hostility towards globalization have dealt a significant blow to the country’s reputation as a leader in international trade and security. Instead of containing China’s rise, Trump’s isolationist agenda has cleared its path, allowing Beijing to expand its influence globally.
Despite Trump’s claims that the trade war is aimed at helping the US outcompete China, the reality is that it has led to Asia-Pacific countries becoming closer to China. The US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in 2017 was a major blow to regional economic integration and gave China an opportunity to fill the gap.
Vietnam, for example, has been strengthening its ties with China, signing cooperation agreements on production and supply chains. Other Southeast Asian countries are also becoming increasingly wary of relying on US defense contractors and are funding their own military efforts instead.
Europe is not immune to Trump’s influence either. The US administration’s denigration of NATO and attempts to undermine European security have led European countries to turn towards China for economic cooperation. Poland, a key NATO ally, has announced nearly $50 billion worth of contracts with South Korean companies to build missiles and other equipment in the country.
Canada, another longtime US ally, has responded to Trump’s tariffs by seeking deeper trade and security partnerships with Europe. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that Canada is no longer reliant on the US for its economic and security needs.
The result of Trump’s isolationist policies is a loss of trust between countries, which takes time to rebuild. The recent increase in US government borrowing costs due to Trump’s tariffs are a clear indication of this. Instead of investing in the US economy, investors are fleeing to safer assets elsewhere.
In conclusion, Trump’s “America First” agenda has left the US behind in the global economy. Instead of containing China’s rise, Trump’s policies have cleared its path, allowing Beijing to become the world’s predominant power. Historians will note that it didn’t take global leadership for China to surpass the US – it was given to them by Trump’s own hands.
Source: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-global-trade-china-america-first-rcna201647