The following excerpt is from an op-ed written by Jane Mellsop, ASPI's Director of Trade, Investment, and Economic Security, and published in NBR. 

Nearly a month on from President Trump’s so-called ‘Liberation Day’, the reality of the new U.S. Administration’s tariff turmoil and global trade upheaval is starting to sink in around the world. As small and medium-sized countries navigate their way through these uncertain times, they should focus on preserving the rules-based trading system that has served them so well by deepening, and broadening, their trading relationships and regional integration. 

Since taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced several measures aimed at shaking up the global trading system which he alleges has not served the U.S. well. 

He has traded barbs with allies and foes alike, imposing new tariffs on the whole world, and pushing for America to be a “manufacturing nation once again”. As the largest economy in the world, such moves are being felt widely, and spurring many nations into action as they rush to join the queue to the White House with promises of tariff concessions, new investments in the U.S., and increased purchases of U.S. products. 

According to the US Administration, more than 100 countries are beating down their door seeking a trade deal with the self-proclaimed greatest deal-maker, President Trump. 

How quickly those deals can be done, and the quality of those deals, is, however, up for debate, especially given President Trump’s competing objectives of eliminating the U.S. trade deficit, boosting government revenue, addressing foreign non-tariff barriers and bringing manufacturing home.  

Read the full op-ed here.