America First 2.0: Trump’s new trade doctrine could target allies first

More comments shared with Tala Michel Issa for Arabian Business on the consequences for US allies of Trump 2.0 trade policies.

Contrary to a widely-held opinion, I argue that more than a China-hawk, Donald Trump is a trade-hawk, meaning that he is willing to force the balance of power in the US favour through tariffs and trade wars against ANY nation. “America First“…

“Trump is a trade hawk in general so he will go after anyone that he believes is trying to impose unfavourable terms of trade on the United States. Anyone. Including and sometimes even starting with his own strategic allies”. Once more, the EU, Canada and Mexico are in the crosshairs, not just China.

His recent message on X warning that those BRICS members and candidates who “are trying to move away from the Dollar” will “face 100% tariffs and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the US economy” was particularly addressed at US-friendly economies, such as India, the UAE, Türkiye and ASEAN nations.

The saying goes: “To be America’s enemy is dangerous, to be America’s friend is deadly“…

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Picture credits: Reuters

Nicolas Michelon

Nicolas is a corporate geoeconomics and strategic & business intelligence expert with 25 years of experience in the Asia-Pacific, and more recently in the Gulf and Türkiye. A Managing Partner at Alagan Partners, he advises corporate executives on how to navigate the current geopolitical and geoeconomic environment, mitigate risk and develop prospective scenarios. He is also an Adjunct Professor & Guest Lecturer in geopolitics, geoeconomics and business intelligence at ESCP Business School (France), Galatasaray University (Türkiye), University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (Morocco), and Ecole de Guerre Economique (Paris School of Economic Warfare).