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.”

  • merc@sh.itjust.works
    2·
    1 day ago

    and let them be their self governing island to themselves.

    Doesn’t really work for Canada or Mexico.

    • sugarfoot00@lemmy.caEnglish
      3·
      21 hours ago

      Sure it does. That’s the way that Canada and Mexico are planning anyways. We just need a bit of runway to unwind generations of trade.

      • merc@sh.itjust.works
        3·
        16 hours ago

        Canada and Mexico can try, but geographically it just doesn’t make any sense. They can (and should) try to reduce their reliance on the US, and try to be in a stronger position for any future negotiations. But, it simply doesn’t make any economic sense to cut out the biggest trading partner, across 2 of the biggest borders in the world.

        For Canada in particular, there’s really no alternative. Canada’s entire population is near the US border, and there’s no other country that Canada can trade with without international shipping.