NEW YORK — President Trump has set off what could end up becoming a full-blown trade war. As we go down this path, it is worth keeping something firmly in view: Tariffs don’t work. I’m not spouting free-market theory; I’m simply making a practical observation. There have been many efforts in recent decades to help […]
Fareed Zakaria
Left needs to find its voice on Venezuela
NEW YORK — The Trump administration faces a test in Venezuela. It must pursue a foreign policy that helps usher out the odious regime of Nicolas Maduro without triggering a backlash against perceived American “imperialism.” It must support a political transition that doesn’t threaten the old guard so much that they fight to the end. […]
Without America, Economic Forum lacks focus, energy
DAVOS — The atmosphere at the 2019 World Economic Forum reflects the global picture perhaps more genuinely than in years past, and the painting is not very pretty. The mood here is subdued, cautious and apprehensive. There’s not much talk of a global slowdown, but no one is confident about a growth story either. There […]
The EU is a great idea that has gone awry
NEW YORK — As we watch Britain going through the paroxysms relating to Brexit, it is easy to view its decision to leave the European Union as an act of foolishness, a self-inflicted wound that will impoverish Britons for years to come. Europe is Britain’s largest market, taking in almost half of the country’s exports. […]
It's time for Congress to curb the powers of the president
NEW YORK — Watching the struggle over funding for a border wall, I am struck by the way in which, in one sense, Donald Trump has already achieved success. He has been able to conjure up a crisis out of thin air, elevate this manufactured emergency to national attention, paralyze the government and perhaps even […]
Everywhere, there is a growing backlash to populism
NEW YORK — Emmanuel Macron has been the great hope for those who worry that global politics is being dominated by populism, nationalism and racism. In his presidential campaign last year, Macron was able to rally France around a message of reform and multilateralism, staying firmly wedded to the European Union and other international alliances […]
Urban-rural chasm defines new Western political divide
NEW YORK — For Steve Bannon, the way to create an enduring populist majority is to combine forces on the left and right. That’s why he was in Italy earlier this year, where parties representing those two sides joined together in a governing alliance. That’s why Bannon hopes to wean some of Bernie Sanders’ supporters […]
Some of Bush's WASP values are worth keeping
NEW YORK — The death of George H.W. Bush has occasioned a fair amount of nostalgia for the old American establishment, of which Bush was undoubtedly a prominent member. It has also provoked a heated debate among commentators about that establishment, whose membership was determined largely by bloodlines and connections. You had to be a […]
As U.S. influence wanes, China stands ready to step in
NEW YORK — The G-20 summit in Argentina is taking place at a moment when the United States still stands at the center of the world. The U.S. economy is booming, the dollar is almighty, American technology companies continue to dominate the new digital economy, and the U.S. military remains the unrivaled master of land, […]
Trump's absence at Asian summits another sign of American retreat
NEW YORK — It’s easy to get distracted by the circus of the Trump presidency. But what is its larger effect? For an answer to that question, take a look at three gatherings this past week on the other side of the planet. Attended by all the major Asian countries, the ASEAN and East Asia […]