Summary

The incoming end of Donald Trump’s first term as president of the United States raises many questions about the future of US foreign policy, especially if he is not re-elected in November. In the realm of international trade, Trump implemented his ‘America First’ approach by imposing tariffs on China, the EU and others; by renegotiating NAFTA (rebranded USMCA); by abandoning talks with the EU on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP); and by pulling the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The latter was an ambitious free trade agreement between 12 countries on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, meant to strengthen their economic and political ties and counter China’s growing commercial dominance. With elections looming on the horizon and Democrat Joe Biden seemingly ahead in polls, many are openly wondering what a Biden win would mean for US trade policy, and whether the TPP could be dusted off and brought back to the table.