Trump's trade war also unsettles the world

The excuse given by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, for imposing unprecedented tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China is not economic. He uses them, he says, to force these countries to more firmly control the trafficking of fentanyl, the most deadly drug in the United States right now, at their borders, as well as, as for the neighbors, the entry of immigrants. However, although his two neighbors have stepped up and have reinforced the border and pursued drug trafficking more than ever, this has not been enough to postpone or lower the tariffs. And it is understandable, because, in reality, behind everything there is his obsession with the Make America Great Again (MAGA), that is, to force companies to invest in the United States, bring back industries, create more jobs and reduce the country's trade deficit. This is made clear by what other members of his government say, such as the Secretary of Commerce when he defends that the investments in the United States by TMSC, the Taiwanese chip giant, respond to this protectionist policy. But, above all, in the statements of Trump himself when, speaking of the future tariffs that he will impose on European products, he complains that Europeans buy little in the United States and that for this reason they must be punished.

Economic punishment is, in fact, Trump's way of relating to the world, both abroad and within his own country. He is using money as the basic tool to exercise his power and impose his reactionary ideology. He does this by cutting back on administration, firing thousands of public workers and withdrawing aid and subsidies to universities, scientific research centres, humanitarian aid organisations and all kinds of social associations, and he also does this to force third countries to do what he wants. This has just happened with the withdrawal of support for Ukraine and also with the implementation of these tariffs, with which he has started a trade war that analysts, and for the moment the stock markets, agree in considering a mistake with still unforeseeable consequences.

Whether it will succeed or not will depend on the response of these countries to the economic pressure that Trump puts on them. On the resistance, and resilience, that they have to endure and maintain their sovereignty. For the moment, Canada already responded yesterday by announcing tariffs on US products and considering the Trump administration's rates an attempt to attack the sovereignty of the country, which the magnate would like to directly adhere to the United States within the framework of the imperialist policy he is imposing. Mexico has also announced a response, which in principle should arrive on Sunday, although it remains to be seen to what extent it will be able to resist, since its dependence on its northern neighbor is greater. And China has also responded with more tariffs and restrictions on exports of rare materials that the US industry needs. In all three cases, this war is increasing nationalism in the three countries, which like Ukraine, and the European Union itself, are making gestures but end up recognizing the US dependence. We will have to see what finally happens with the resistance of those first affected by a trade war that sooner or later will affect us all.