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Curated by Project Syndicate

Trump, Trade, and China

100 commentaries

The biggest cloud hanging over the world economy is the incipient trade war with China launched by US President Donald Trump. But with America’s closest allies rejecting Trump's protectionism, can the US really afford to go it alone?

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  1. Trump’s Backward March on Trade
    krueger23_Joshua LottGetty Images_trumpmagahat Joshua Lott/Getty Images

    Trump’s Backward March on Trade

    Jan 20, 2020 Anne O. Krueger argues that America has been the biggest loser after two years of protectionism and free-wheeling sanctions.

  2. Why a Cool War May Be Worse than a Cold One
    sheng95_narvikk Getty Images_chinaustradewarshipping narvikk/Getty Images

    Why a Cool War May Be Worse than a Cold One

    Jan 2, 2020 Andrew Sheng & Xiao Geng warn that in the current struggle between the US and China, both sides could end up losing.

  3. The Case for Old-Fashioned Tariff Cuts
    frankel105_5m3photosGettyImages_tradeshippingcontainer 5m3photos/Getty Images

    The Case for Old-Fashioned Tariff Cuts

    Nov 27, 2019 Jeffrey Frankel says modest-sounding trade policies focusing on “shallow integration” could produce significant benefits.

  4. After the US-China Trade War
    roach109_JOHANNES EISELEAFP via Getty Images_USstockmarkettrader Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images

    After the US-China Trade War

    Nov 25, 2019 Stephen S. Roach says that, truce or not, a protracted economic struggle between the US and China has already begun.

  5. How to Get Past the US-China Trade War
    rodrik166_STRAFP via Getty Images_chinatradeshippingboat STR/AFP/Getty Images

    How to Get Past the US-China Trade War

    Nov 7, 2019 Dani Rodrik proposes a framework that would allow both countries to maintain their own economic model.

  6. China Adjusts to the New World Order
    sheng93_Kevin FrayerGetty Images_china70thwomanflag Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

    China Adjusts to the New World Order

    Oct 28, 2019 Andrew Sheng & Xiao Geng show that the country is in a position not only to survive US protectionism, but to thrive in spite of it.

  1. ghosh77_MANDEL NGANAFP via Getty Images_ajaybanga Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

    The “Billions to Trillions” Charade

    Jayati Ghosh explains why using development banks' resources to incentivize private-sector finance is unlikely to succeed.
  2. aljasser1_SEYLLOUAFP via Getty Images_dakarairport Seyllou/AFP via Getty Images

    Leveraging Islamic Finance for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure

    Muhammad Al Jasser shows how a hybrid financing model could help fund desperately needed projects in the developing world.
  3. GettyImages-1357300450

    Adekeye Adebajo on the Non-Aligned Movement, United Nations peacekeeping, African institution-building, and more

    Adekeye Adebajo argues that Israel’s war in Gaza is accelerating the trend toward global apartheid, highlights the strengths and weaknesses of United Nations peacekeeping missions, criticizes the militarization of US engagement with Africa, and more.
  4. alemanno1_MARCEL VAN HOORNANPAFP via Getty Images_debate MARCEL VAN HOORN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images

    Europe’s Non-European Elections

    Alberto Alemanno highlights structural flaws that impede the European Union’s ability to address its current and future challenges.
  5. almubarak1_In Pictures Ltd.Corbis via Getty Images_africawomancooking In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images

    A Turning Point for Clean Cooking

    Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak & Joseph Nganga

    The models are in place to achieve clean cooking for all, which would have enormous benefits for the climate, health, and gender equality. Now rich-country governments, the private sector, and international organizations must agree to provide the necessary funding at this week’s IEA Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa.

    urge global leaders to provide the financing to end a practice with dire effects for health and the climate.
  6. qxu2_VCGVCG via Getty Images_chinashipping VCG via Getty Images

    Why the US Can’t Win the Trade War With China – and Shouldn’t Try

    Qiyuan Xu argues that high capital outflows – largely a result of US policy – have resulted in an undervalued renminbi.
  7. eichengreen190_Tomohiro OhsumiGetty Images_japanexchange Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

    The Dilemmas of the Dollar

    Barry Eichengreen

    The dollar's strength, particularly against major Asian currencies, has triggered a wave of skittishness in financial markets. Can anything be done to stem the greenback's rise, and even if something can be done, should it?

    asks whether anything can or should be done about the greenback's strength, especially against Asian currencies.
  8. matola2_Per-Anders PetterssonGetty Images_malawi cooking Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images

    Clean Cooking Advances Women’s Empowerment

    Rachel Ruto outlines a gender-based strategy for improving energy access and reducing air pollution in Africa.
  9. kirtondarling1_Andreas RentzGetty Images_european green new deal Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

    There Can Be No Business as Usual for European Industry

    Judith Kirton-Darling urges EU leaders to make a renewed Green Deal, backed by competitiveness-bolstering initiatives, a top priority.

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