Trump's Year-One Trade Policies: Belligerent Rhetoric -- But Still Unsettled

4 CHINA WTO REVIEW (No. 1) at 133 (March 2018)

12 Pages Posted: 6 Mar 2018

See all articles by Stuart Malawer

Stuart Malawer

George Mason University (Schar School of Policy & Government)

Date Written: April 1, 2018

Abstract

President Trump’s well-known disregard for rules stem in part from his years of unrelenting real estate litigation and real estate transactions. Such experience, including dealing principally with only two parties to real estate contracts, have undoubtedly colored his administration’s disdain for multilateral rules and institutions, espousal of unilateral actions, and policies in favor of bilateral trade deals. This disdain reflects President Trump’s disdain for domestic rules and institutions.

The administration’s recently released national security strategy merely restates President Trump’s view on weaponization of trade, stronger trade enforcement, and his belligerent trade rhetoric. It moves trade to the center of national security policy and views more explicitly China as a strategic rival, not merely a trade competitor. However, this strategy otherwise breaks no new ground. It presents neither coherent policy nor consistency. The next few months will see if President Trump’s rhetoric and minimal actions so far will turn into something worse, i.e., real Trumpian trade wars.

Suggested Citation

Malawer, Stuart, Trump's Year-One Trade Policies: Belligerent Rhetoric -- But Still Unsettled (April 1, 2018). 4 CHINA WTO REVIEW (No. 1) at 133 (March 2018), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3130374

Stuart Malawer (Contact Author)

George Mason University (Schar School of Policy & Government) ( email )

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