Trade Under Strain: Policy Challenges in a Fractured World | LSE Event

Why It Matters

Rising tariffs and a fractured multilateral order reshape global supply chains, forcing firms to reassess risk and adapt to a more protectionist, geopolitically driven trade landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Tariffs surged post‑2016, reversing decades of trade liberalization.
• Trump’s “great tariff man” rhetoric turned tariffs into geopolitical tools.
• Public skepticism of globalization fuels demand for protectionist policies worldwide.
• Collapse of liberal order signals a new Cold‑War‑like trade divide.
• LSE’s special issue explores origins, responses, and future of trade.

Summary

The LSE Public Policy Review hosted a launch event for its new issue, “Trade Under Strain: Policy Challenges in a Fractured World.” A panel of economists, political scientists and international‑relations scholars introduced the publication, which examines the sudden resurgence of trade protectionism and its broader political implications.

Panelists traced the origins of today’s tariff boom to the 2016 election of Donald Trump, whose self‑styled “great tariff man” persona transformed tariffs from a technical economic tool into a weapon of geopolitical coercion. The discussion highlighted how the United States expanded tariffs beyond China to Europe, Brazil, India and even digital services, turning trade policy into a lever in broader strategic contests.

Robert Faulkner emphasized that public opinion has shifted dramatically, with voters in the US, Europe and elsewhere expressing deep skepticism toward globalization and demanding state‑led intervention. Boram Lee’s work on the electoral logic of trade coalitions and Alan Winters’ historical perspective underscored the collapse of the post‑World‑War‑II liberal order, suggesting a new Cold‑War‑style division of economic blocs.

For businesses and policymakers, the analysis signals a more volatile trade environment: higher duties, unpredictable retaliatory measures, and a fragmented multilateral system. Understanding the political drivers behind tariffs will be essential for navigating supply‑chain risks and shaping future trade strategies.

Original Description

In an increasingly fragmented global order, new forms of geopolitical and economic division are reshaping the world economy. Long‑standing trade partnerships face growing pressure, and rising tensions threaten to unwind decades of cooperation. This event brings together an interdisciplinary panel of experts to mark the launch of the new LSE Public Policy Review issue, Trade Under Strain: Policy Challenges in a Fractured World.

Speakers:

Dr Boram Lee

Professor Robert Falkner

Thomas Sampson

Discussant:

Professor L Alan Winters

Chair:

Professor Stephanie Rickard

#Trade #Events #London

Full details/attend: https://www.lse.ac.uk/events/trade-2

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