A response to Trump’s prices: the trade that excludes the United States

While President Trump this weekend opened which could become a world trade war, an increasing number of countries, including the allies closest to America, form their own economic partnerships without the United States. If Washington puts a higher fence around his profession, other nations lower theirs.

In the past two months only, the European Union has concluded three new commercial transactions.

The block, ending negotiations that started 25 years ago, concluded a major agreement with four countries in South America in December to create one of the largest commercial areas in the world, connecting the markets with 850 million people.

Two weeks later, the European Union concluded an agreement with Switzerland. Last month, the block strengthened the commercial provisions with Mexico. He also resumed the talks, after a 13-year postponement, on a free trade agreement with Malaysia.

“With Europe, what you see is what you get,” said the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, boasted at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “We play according to the rules. Our offers have no hidden chain. »»

Trump on Saturday, Trump ordered 25% prices on Mexico and Canada – partners in a commercial block which he himself signed during his first mandate – and 10% of prices on China. Mexico and Canada immediately promised to retaliate, and China said it would consider “countermeasures”. Europe has promised that Mr. Trump in recent days, was the next one: “The European Union has treated us so terribly.”

Of course, the United States, with the greatest economy on the planet, cannot be ignored. But it can, at least sometimes, be avoided.