Do Trump’s protectionist measures put globalization or democracy at risk?
11/03/2025
Juan Carlos Palacios Cívico
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Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business
Juan Carlos Palacios Cívico
Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business
If the liberal slogan that free trade is a win-win situation was once accepted, it is now logical to think that with protectionism everyone will lose, that it will mean the end of globalization and that it will have great economic costs for the United States.
In the last few hours, the tariff crisis with Canada has escalated in intensity: the Government of Ontario responded to Trump’s threats with a 25% surcharge on electricity serving the states of Minnesota, New York and Michigan, and now Trump has announced that he will raise tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium to 50%. Shortly afterwards, Ontario authorities suspended the electricity rate hike.
If Trump’s narrative shift has generated bewilderment and seems contrary to US business interests, a critical look at the benefits of free trade and the US position allows for a better understanding of the resurgence of protectionist discourse and the trade war with China.
This article was originally published in The Conversation (in Spanish).
If Trump’s narrative shift has generated bewilderment and seems contrary to US business interests, a critical look at the benefits of free trade and the US position allows for a better understanding of the resurgence of protectionist discourse and the trade war with China.
This article was originally published in The Conversation (in Spanish).