As the 2024 US presidential election looms, experts warn that America’s controversial trade policies—regardless of the winner—could deepen fractures in the global economy. Let’s unpack why this matters for you.
The ‘America First’ Legacy
Under former US President Donald Trump’s ‘MAGA’ agenda, tariffs skyrocketed, targeting over $350 billion in Chinese imports and metals worldwide. The US also stalled the WTO’s dispute system, accusing global trade rules of being biased—a move that reshaped supply chains and triggered a China-US trade slump.
Biden’s ‘Multilateralism’ Mask?
President Joe Biden claims to champion international cooperation but has largely kept Trump’s tariffs intact. New levies on Chinese EVs, solar panels, and batteries highlight a ‘small yard, high fence’ strategy, prioritizing ‘resilient’ supply chains that critics say splinter global trade along geopolitical lines.
2024 Election: More of the Same?
Trump’s campaign pledges include 60% tariffs on Chinese goods and universal import taxes, while Biden’s policies risk further fragmentation. Analysts like He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, argue both approaches undermine the WTO and multilateral cooperation—‘the gravest danger to the world.’
Editor’s note: Views reflect the author’s opinions.
As the 2024 US presidential election looms, experts warn that America’s controversial trade policies—regardless of the winner—could deepen fractures in the global economy. Let’s unpack why this matters for you. 
