Global Trade, Pandemics and John Bolton -- Any Connection?

The pandemic’s impact on global trade, as we close out the last few months of President Trump’s term is not clear. But it certainly can’t be good. Similarly, the impact of John Bolton’s new book on Trump’s trade actions are also unclear. But also can’t be very good

The pandemic is a global public health problem. Trump’s trade problems with China are mostly self-inflicted. Especially now in light of Bolton’s disclosure that Trump wanted to trade Chinese purchases of US agricultural goods for new US trade concessions for his own personal interests. So this increase in American agricultural exports would help his reelection chances.

To me there is another more general similarity. The global responses to the pandemic and Trump’s China trade policies are indicative of increased inward-looking on part of global leaders. For President Trump his trade and tariff policies are all about domestic politics and his reelection.

The pandemic is forcing global leaders, including US policymakers, to reconsider global supply chains and redefine national security. Concluding that there should be domestic production of  products relating to pandemics as well as restriction of related medical exports as a matter of national security.

To me, US and global trade issues are among the most important policy issues of the day. Newer issues are certainly novel. In the last few months they have become even more uncertain and possibly  more dysfunctional as we go forward. Let’s hope not. We need better national policies and better multilateral cooperation. We clearly are at a watershed moment.