Consider This: President Trump is Upending Global Trade as We Know It

Episode Title: President Trump is upending global trade as we know it. What comes next?
Release Date: August 13, 2025
Host: Ari Shapiro
Source: NPR's Consider This

Introduction

In this episode of NPR's Consider This, host Ari Shapiro delves into the seismic shifts in global trade orchestrated by President Donald Trump. The discussion centers on how Trump's administration has dramatically altered the landscape of international commerce, challenging longstanding agreements and norms.

Trump's Reshaping of Global Trade

Ari Shapiro begins by contextualizing the controversy surrounding global trade, referencing the 1999 WTO conference in Seattle, which saw massive protests against economic globalization. He highlights that despite decades of expanding global trade, opposition remains strong, notably from the current U.S. administration.

Notable Quote:

Donald Trump (00:37): "Foreign leaders have stolen our jobs, foreign cheaters have ransacked our factories, and foreign scavengers have torn apart our once beautiful American dream."

Trump's tenure, particularly his second term, has been marked by aggressive maneuvers to overhaul the global trading system. He emphasizes reciprocity and stringent tariffs as tools to renegotiate trade deals.

Notable Quote:

Donald Trump (00:53): "Trade order, instituting reciprocal tariffs, very severe tariffs. If we don't have a deal in 50 days, a 25% tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States. If you want to play ball, this is what you have to pay."

The Decline of the Traditional Global Trading System

The core of the episode features an insightful conversation with Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations and former U.S. Trade Representative. Froman asserts that the post-World War II global trading system, characterized by predictable and stable rules, is effectively "dead."

Notable Quote:

Michael Froman (03:02): "It's Consider this from NPR the global trading system as we have known it is dead."

Froman outlines the historical success of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in fostering economic integration and reducing poverty worldwide. However, he acknowledges that the system has faced growing unpopularity due to its impact on domestic economies, particularly among workers who have suffered from job losses and wage pressures as industries moved overseas.

Failings of the Previous Trade System

Froman discusses the inherent challenges of global integration, noting that increased competition from low-wage countries has strained domestic industries in the U.S., leading to factory closures and economic displacement in certain communities.

Notable Quote:

Michael Froman (04:32): "Workers in the United States, as it became more subject to competition from low wage countries abroad, found pressure on their own wages, found that certain industries could be done more cheaply, more effectively in other countries."

The Need for a New Global Trade Framework

Rejecting the notion of reverting to pre-Trump trade policies, Froman advocates for forming new coalitions among willing and ambitious countries to establish fresh rules that address contemporary challenges. He emphasizes areas like competition with China, technology, and the digital economy as potential focal points for new agreements.

Notable Quote:

Michael Froman (05:16): "Can we play a leadership role in setting the rules of the road for those issues and begin to create rules even in the absence of a fully multilateral rules based system?"

Addressing Instability and Predictability

Froman highlights the current volatility in trade policies, with fluctuating tariff rates creating uncertainty for businesses and workers. He warns that continued chaos could lead to "anarchy" in global trade, underscoring the urgent need for a more stable and predictable system.

Notable Quote:

Michael Froman (06:32): "That's exactly the issue is that it's because of the chaotic conditions that we currently have that that I worry that other countries will start to imitate the United States and basically set new rules themselves day by day... Companies and workers and farmers and ranchers, they need stability."

Prospects for the Future

Looking ahead, Froman anticipates a period of instability as current trade agreements are negotiated and implemented. He remains cautiously optimistic that, over time, the U.S. can spearhead the creation of new trade rules that better reflect today's economic realities and strategic interests.

Notable Quote:

Michael Froman (07:31): "The US May well say, well, we have an interest in bringing a group of countries together. Perhaps there's room for that kind of leadership going forward."

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Froman reaffirming the need for strategic leadership in redefining global trade norms. As the U.S. navigates the complexities of a transformed trade environment, the path forward involves balancing national interests with the imperatives of international cooperation.

Notable Quote:

Ari Shapiro (08:32): "His article 'After the Trade War' is in the new issue of Foreign Affairs."

Final Thoughts

NPR's Consider This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of the ongoing transformation in global trade under President Trump's administration. Through expert insights from Michael Froman, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and potential pathways for establishing a new, more equitable global trading system.