Trump's wrecking-ball approach may reduce American power

Sanctions, tariffs, and the restriction of access to dollars have been major instruments of Trump's foreign policy, and he has been unconstrained by allies, institutions, or rules in using them

US president Donald Trump. Picture: Getty

US President Donald Trump has been accused of weaponising economic globalisation. Sanctions, tariffs, and the restriction of access to dollars have been major instruments of his foreign policy, and he has been unconstrained by allies, institutions, or rules in using them.

According to The Economist, America derives its clout not just from troops and aircraft carriers, but from being the central node in the network that underpins globalisation. “This mesh of firms, ideas ...