Less than a month in office, US President Donald Trump does not spend a day of his government without making statements that displease neighboring countries or longstanding strategic partners. Advertisements include new rates for products imported from nations such as China, Mexico and Canada, including Items such as steel and aluminum.
In addition, Trump has made direct threats to the BRICS regarding the implementation of high import tariffs if countries decide to make trade in their own currency (instead of the dollar).
Controversial attitudes are threatening the sovereignty of other peoples and nations, such as statements about resuming the Panama Canal, controls Greenland (an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark) and transforming Canada into an American state .
There was also affronts to multilateralism and global governance systems, by removing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Trump decided to give an opinion on the Palestinian issue and stated that he intends to control the range of Gaza, region devastated by Israeli bombings in recent months, and expel the Palestinians from the territorysending them forcibly to countries such as Egypt and Jordan.
Isolation
The last statement, which contradicts international law, made the Special Rapporteur of the UNHRC (the acronym, in Portuguese, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) to Israel and the Palestinian occupied territories, Francesca Albanese, encouraged the international community to isolate The United States. “The international community is made by 193 countries and it is time to give the United States what it has sought, which is isolation,” the rapporteur told a press conference after Trump makes the proposal about Gaza.
The US is still the largest economy in the world. The country is considered the largest military power in the world, which includes bases spread across the planet, and provides financial aid to various nations.
However, Evandro Carvalho, PhD in International Law and Professor at the Fluminense Federal University (UFF), says that no country is self -sufficient to the point of being able to completely isolated from international relations, even the United States.
“The economy of a country depends on interactions with other economies, within that logic of seeking opportunities in the international market to cheaper costs. Both the importer and the exporter are aware of the opportunities outside the borders of the country where his company is thirsty. A significant part of the US economy depends on exports and imports. ”
According to the professor, as Trump adopts this “little diplomatic” stance from other countries, he can generate a reaction from these nations.
“By finding that the United States have become a country out of control, and this is partly true, countries tend to meet, not necessarily in a global consensus against the United States, but in the sense of converging in the direction to contain this country. All countries will begin to take initiatives, in an organized way or with a convergence, to tie the ‘giant Gulliver’. This performance of Donald Trump, in fact, tends to isolate the United States further, aggravating the loss of credibility and the legitimacy of the country’s leadership in the international system, ”explains Carvalho.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for example, used her social networks, on Tuesday (11), to criticize Trump’s decision to tax steel and aluminum and promised measures to protect the interests of the countries of the countries of block.
“I deeply regret the US decision to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminum exports. The European Union will act to safeguard its economic interests. We will protect our workers, businesses and consumers, ”he wrote.
Ana Garcia, a researcher at Brics Policy Center, believes, however, that the United States cannot be easily isolated because it is, among other reasons, the largest consumer market and an important production center.
“The United States cannot be easily isolated by any country or block. They are still the epicenter of the production chains. This is not possible unless countries act together. It is not possible politically. You will not have the European Union acting together with China, for example, ”says the researcher.
Brazil
However, it is possible that US replacements may occur in bilateral relations, occurring year after year, as in the case of China, which has replaced the United States as Brazil’s main commercial partner in recent years. “We have the idea that it would be the ideal world, we can do without Americans and have a more multipolar world, but this is not yet possible.”
For the Professor of International Relations at the University of São Paulo (USP) Pedro Dallari, US aggressions to human rights, especially the treatment given to immigrants and Palestinians, must be firmly opposed by the international community.
Regarding economic measures, this is an opportunity for countries, including Brazil, to seek alternative partners. “Regarding the economic measures adopted by the US government, Brazil’s position must be pragmatic, aligned with the interests of Brazilian society. Arguably, a prudent action is to increase the diversity of business partners, at this time, the entry into force of the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union is priority, ”says Dallari.
BRICS can be a way for Brazil, in a situation where trade with the US becomes disadvantageous. The hegemony of China, a country with greater participation in global trade, within BRICS should remain, according to Dallari. But for Eduardo Carvalho, Brazil must look at the other member countries.
“There is a huge opportunity at the summit that will take place this year here in Brazil to discuss intra BRICS trade. Today there is an intense business relationship of all countries with China. But Brazil’s relationship with India, Russia, South Africa and the new members, Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates and Iran has room to grow. We need to identify where the competitive advantages are, ”says Carvalho.
Ana Garcia regrets that Brazil’s trade with other Brics countries is still very small and that all members of the group still depend a lot on trade with China.
“China would be the only power that could play this role of trying to circumvent [as políticas protecionistas dos EUA]. Each time Trump acts to restrict trade, investment, he is taking a step against himself, of making room for China. But still not in all sectors. ”
For the researcher, Brazil should diversify their business relationships, so as not to depend so much on any country, whether the United States or China. “The ideal world would be a diversification of trade relations, including Europe and other countries. But strengthen primarily, the south-south relations of Brazil. Then, yes, we would have perhaps a differential to deal with the partners more equally. ”
Ana Garcia regrets that Brazil has set aside its leadership role within Latin America and its relations with Africa and the Middle East, which marked the first terms of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in favor of more global matters such as the BRICS and the G20. “It would be important to diversify and seek more equitable partnerships for business relations, but also for multilateral forums.”
