Aziz Huq Writes About Trump Administration’s Trade Deals
Non-Credible America
The global trade war that Donald Trump launched on April 2 has entered a new phase: dealmaking. A new memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom lists “initial proposals” that might eventually be hammered into a “free-trade deal.” In an online post titled “art of the deal,” the White House proclaimed a 90-day suspension of the tariffs that it had unilaterally imposed on China, and an end to Chinese “retaliation.” According to the administration, negotiations are ongoing with “dozens” of other countries.
Such “deals” imply that the United States can and will enter new, binding agreements on trade with other countries. But can the US bind itself credibly anymore?
A country like the US typically makes binding international commitments through statutory legislation or treaties signed and ratified by both governments. If one side can walk away without notice from a law or treaty, its commitment is not credible. Trump’s own actions show that he does not believe himself to be bound by statute or treaty, and no one in the US legal system is willing or able to force him to abide by them in a timely and effective fashion.
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