The World That Tariffs Will Make

The podcast episode of the Foreign Affairs Interview examines the profound impact of President Donald Trump’s trade policies during his second term, which have significantly disrupted the post-Cold War global economic order.
Michael Froman, former U.S. Trade Representative and current president of the Council on Foreign Relations, argues that the era of “America first” protectionism and parallel strategies by China marks the decline of the established rules-based trading system. Froman warns that economic anarchy could result but stresses that nostalgia for the old order is futile, advocating instead for the construction of a new global economy governed by rules, even if formal global governance is weakened. This episode offers critical insights into the future trajectory of international trade and economic relations.
Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts.