The recent G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany was like no other. Even before it began commentators predicted some world leaders would find less common ground than they had at previous summits. Yet, there was one reason why the latest summit was so unusual: Donald Trump.
“He was an uneasy, lonely, awkward figure at this gathering and you got the strong sense that some of the leaders are trying to find the best way to work around him … He has no desire and no capacity to lead the world,” was how veteran Australian political journalist Chris Uhlmann described the 45th president of the United States in a news roundup that has gone viral.
Typically, such events promote the shared values of an international community, putting security, peace and economic growth at the forefront of the agenda.
Trump at odds with long-standing G20 policy
However, since he has come to power, Trump has routinely rejected the concept of a global community and the benefits of globalization. He is instead extolling the virtues of protectionism, which would force the G20 to retreat on policies that reject this approach.
This clearly puts him at odds with the likes of China. Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru that his country will not turn its back on globalization. He said: “Sealing off and excluding others is not the correct choice … China will not shut the door to the outside world but open more … We’re going to ensure the fruits of development are shared.”
Trump’s anti-globalization/pro-protectionism stance also pits him against many major business leaders, among them Apple CEO Tim Cook. During a recent visit to China, in a rare public speech, Cook defended globalization, describing it as generally “great for the world” and cautioning against isolationism.
In a column for Asia Times last November, I wrote: “Globalization in the world of trade and commerce is here to stay and will, if anything, only gain momentum.”
Reasons why globalization is good for the world
I remain confident of this, despite Trump and his administration’s attempts to discredit the concept. Individuals, businesses, and countries are all increasingly globally minded and internationally focused — and there are key reasons for this.
First, globalization promotes economic growth, creates jobs, and increases competition between firms, thereby reducing costs for consumers.
Second, it increases competition between countries, which, again, typically means lower prices for ordinary people.
Third, it provides a global marketplace for both businesses and consumers.
Fourth, it can help poorer countries develop through greater levels of foreign investment. This, in turn, usually, makes countries more stable, secure and peaceful.
Fifth, labor can move more freely between countries.
And sixth, it promotes cultural and social acceptance and understanding between countries as they deal with each other.
There are, of course, disadvantages, but I agree with Tim Cook that globalization is generally beneficial for the world. Whatever your thoughts — whether you are for or against — it is not going to stop. Globalization has a vise-like grip on the world. With this in mind, we need to ensure that globalization is not hijacked or denigrated and that it works for as many people as possible.
This will take strong political leadership, something Trump showed at the recent G20 that he lacks. This will put America on the backfoot, while many Asian countries, such as China and India, are out front in embracing globalization.
Shridhar Joshi Hi Shridar. Thank you for your post. I personally do not fear the global frictions. They have been present in various intensities in different parts of the world forever. I do fear war. And my country has been involved in a bunch of them, driven by nurturing leaders who see the USA as protector of free peoples. There may have been less altruistic reasons also present but that and protecting the USA from hostile threats are the two ways the citizens support has been elicited. Trump is trying to get away from that. In his view, strong allies are good allies and weak allies are a drain on resources, a drain we can ill afford in the current climate, but a drain we must afford yet manage at the same time. There is no question that the world order is changing. China’s BRI is going to be successful. To what degree is hard to tell, but it is well planned and well executed. There are lots of things that could make it difficult to succeed, but whatever, there will be some substantial degree of success. And part of China’s goal is creating a financial world which the USA has no access to, and therefore free from threats of sanctions. In this world, China will be the dominant country and the Yuan will be the currency of choice for international trade. this world can co-exist with the western dominated financial world, but China’s world, symbolized as the New Silk Road will thrive since China manufactures so much and the USA has outsourced so much manufacturing. Costs for imported goods will escalate seriously negatively impacting the cost of living in the USA. Trump will head this scenario off by encouraging the USA to rebuild its manufacturing capabilities and capacity. He will also participate in the BRI and lessen the isolation intended for us. The new world order will still happen, but Trump may assure the USA is not so bruised by China’s success that we can all just get along. Remember, that while governments may have friction with each other, absent overt hostilities, the people that make up the country generally enjoy people from other countries and generally enjoy touring in those other countries. Other cultures, architectures, cullinary treats, entertainment and attire are stimulating and fun.
Very good logical narration sir. I’m from India. After reading your thoughts, I can understand that the USA has every right to demand a better deal.. Most of the financial contribution for the UN is from the USA.. Globalization will survive only if the USA and other countries fairly share the benefits.. Otherwise it may lead to unnecessary imbalance in the world order, which may result into many harmful global frictions on different fronts..
International trade and investment has been around even before anyone coined the word globalisation. Trump is only insisting that America should get her money’s worth. He is not against globalisation. The Trump organisation is a global company. This is just international liberal propaganda.
Another example of bullshit by agenda driven writing. First point, there is no such thing as free trade without caveats. Secondly, Trump is not against global trading. He is against the trade deals that have been so lopsided that the United States has enormous trade deficits. He wants to correct them. And he emphasizes America first because America has been on a nurturing put-everyone-else-first-because-because-they-are-poor first binge, started by the fasting we did for starving Europe at the end of WWll and the Marshall Plan. And China, who has benefittef the most from globalization, of course supports globalization, an underpinning tenet to the BRI. China has trade surpluses with most of its trading partners. China has been operasting on a China first principal for decades. Trump is just trying to save the United States from a fate planned by China and Russia and ignored by the idiots ho have run the US government and its policies for decades.
Instead of globalisation advanced by the G19, the neoFascist should have internationalized the G20 agenda to dove-tail into his America First agenda.