Without a means of enforcing bilateral trade agreements, Trump could simply change the terms of any deal down the road. The answer is to kick the U.S. out of the World Trade Organization, argues professor Kristen Hopewell.

When Trump threatened Brazil with punishing tariffs on Wednesday, there was no fancy mathematical equation trotted out this time as justification.

The 50% levy on goods was retribution for a perceived “witch hunt” against his political ally, Jair Bolsanaro, whose supporters attempted a coup two years ago.

This administration is bringing back the law of the jungle to international trade, according to trade expert Kristen Hopewell, and time is running out to salvage the remains of a post-war system of commerce that promoted stability and prosperity across the world.

“Trump is a totally unreliable negotiating partner,” she tells Fortune. “Any deal you strike with the administration is not worth the paper it’s written on.”

  • Archangel1313@lemmy.ca
    553·
    2 days ago

    Since the Biden administration continued its policy of blocking appointments to fill its vacancies, there is now no quorum to adjudicate trade disputes, leaving countries little incentive to abide by the rules anymore. Quite the contrary, they can break them with near impunity.

    JFC. They had 4 years to do something…anything…to fix the system that allowed Trump to do this shit in the 1st place, or at least prevent him from getting back into power…and they didn’t even fucking try.

    It’s almost like this was the plan, all along.

    • Maiq@lemy.lol
      24·
      2 days ago

      I truly think the Biden/Garland slow role on trump prosecution was so he could run against trump for what he believed would be an easy shoo-in for his reelection.

      The same mistake hillary made by propping up trump when she ran as she thought there was no way people would vote for him.

      Biden also didn’t want to set precedent by prosecuting a previous presidents.

      • JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world
        7·
        2 days ago

        Complacency. What you said makes perfect sense, then the complacency of the voter bloc who thought it ok to sit it out because they saw an easy win. I mean no one could be that dumb twice, right?