How Trump Will Affect Europe and Asia

“Tariffs is my favourite word in the dictionary”

He has promised to introduce a 10% tariff on all goods and services coming into America as the most important part of making America Great Again. It will be 60% for China. Economists estimate that, for the UK alone, this will result in a 4% drop in trade, a reduction of 1% in GDP, and higher inflation. It’s likely, therefore, that Starmer’s growth targets, which are the cornerstone of his policies, will not be met.

All nations will react to the imposition of these tariffs. The world gains if nations sell goods and services of which they have an advantage to those countries which do not have those skills and resources. And, reciprocally, we gain by importing goods which other countries are better at producing than we are. Maybe their labour is more skilled than ours. Maybe their wage rates are so much lower that they have a competitive advantage.

But no-one gains with protectionist policies if free trade is made prohibitive by high tariff rates.

There needs to be change in the United States if there is to be unity and economic growth in the country. Those electing Trump as the next president have done so emotionally, without thinking what the effects of his policies are likely to be. Thailand, too, has this mindset. Thais “think” with their hearts, their emotions.

The world needs the exchange of ideas and peoples between nations.

This image of the President relaxing on his private jet may be a clue to understanding how Trump will Affect Europe and Asia”

Let’s consider some comments made by David Lammy, now Prime Minister Starmer’s Foreign Secretary. In my opinion, they throw light on Trump’s real motivation and objectives in totalitarian control.

“a neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath, a profound threat to international trade.”
“deluded, dishonest, xenophobic, narcissistic, …no friend of Britain.”
a “racist Ku Klux Klan and Nazi sympathiser.”

Patriotism is fine. As the above remarks show, Trump takes it to the level of Nationalism. Remember how Hitler successfully over-ran most of Europe, and was set to include England and Russia in his fascist empire. Trump’s winning of the popular vote in America will, for example, give confidence to the extreme right-wing parties of UKIP, ReformUK (Farage’s party) in the UK.

Hungary’s leader, Viktor Orban, will be comforted with Trump’s victory, cementing his position as the most extreme nationalist party in Europe. And that is despite 38% of Hungarians saying that their country is less democratic under their leader.

Trump’s Keynote Policies.

Stopping the war in Ukraine within 24 hours.
He says he will talk to Zelensky and Putin and is confident that they will agree to a ceasefire. Presumably, there will be some sort of agreement about what lands will be held by each side. Crimea will stay with Russia. Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO.

Foreign Countries to Pay for Their Own Defence.
Trump is no fan of NATO. He is not prepared to be the world’s policeman, defending other nations against communism and invasions. Unlike France and Germany, the UK pays the agreed NATO percentage contribution. But it may have to pay more if NATO is underfunded.

The President-Elect believes global warming is a myth.

He proposes to expand oil and gas production in America. “Drill drill, drill” are his watchwords.

Illegal Immigrants to be Deported.

A final quote. In Trump’s rambling but charismatic style, it’ not clear if his following remark refers to all the policies outlined above, or just his views on women.

“I’m going to do it, whether the women like it or not.”