Conflict, international trade and President Trump’s isolationist policies

• Published date: 01 April 2018
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JITLP-07-2017-0024
• Date: 01 April 2018
• Pages: 34-45
• Author: Yusuf Ayotunde Abdulkareem
• Subject Matter: Strategy,International business,International business law,Economics,International economics,International trade

Conflict, international trade

and President Trump’s

isolationist policies

Yusuf Ayotunde Abdulkareem

Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Abstract

Purpose –This paper draws attentionto President Trump’s isolationist policiesand aims to show that it is

reminiscent of the era of the Smoot–Hawley Tariff of the 1930s. This paper posits that the isolationism

coupled with the Trump government’s brash anduneasy relationship with other governments of the world

will onlyharm the US economy because history has shown thatisolationism does not work.

Design/methodology/approach –This paper briefly discusses the relationship between conflict and

international tradeand whether trade and economic interdependence are toolsthat are relevant in preventing

the initiation, escalation and settlementof conflicts. It also draws a comparison between President Trump’s

increasingly isolationistpolicies and the political climate of the USA in the 1930s, with particular referenceto

the Tariff Act of 1930. This paper finally explores the present tensions with other countries and likely

consequencesfor America.

Findings –A direct relationship exists between conflict and trade because the presence of good trade

relationships does not take away from but only helps to maintain peace and friendly relationships among

nations. Furthermore,Trump’s isolationist policies are certainly goingto harm the USA in the long run and a

big part of that is because of thepersonality of the President himself.

Originality/value –This paper is an original work of the author andit strives to remind us of a similar

past in US history,and warn of the dangers of the present course of the Trump administration.

Keywords United States, Conflict, Trade, Trump, Isolationism

Paper type Viewpoint

1. Introduction

President Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the USA on January 20, 2017, and

has wasted no time in attempting to fulfill some of his campaignpromises. A major chunk of

those promises relates to trade. Trade agreements and policies of the USA was a major

campaign topic for President Trump during the 2016presidential campaign. His campaign

slogan, “Make America Great Again,”and familiar rhetoric of putting “America first”

resonated with Americans who felt their jobs had been stolen by foreigners and foreign

markets. During his inauguration speech, he promised to end “ravages of other countries

making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs”(Durkee, 2017).

President Trump steadfastly holds on to the belief that the USA has been taken advantage

of in its trade deals and always getsthe shorter end of the stick. Some of his major campaign

promises were to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),

withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and impose tariffs on goods made in

China and Mexico.

There is a very glaring theme in most of Trump’s campaign promises as well as his

actions since assumption of office; isolationism. President Trump’s foreign policy direction

seems to be aggressively isolationist and reluctant to engage in international cooperation.

The President appears to be unaware of the consequences of an isolationist policy,

JITLP

17,1/2

34

Received18 July 2017

Revised19 November 2017

Accepted25 November 2017

Journalof International Trade

Lawand Policy

Vol.17 No. 1/2, 2018

pp. 34-45

© Emerald Publishing Limited

1477-0024

DOI 10.1108/JITLP-07-2017-0024

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