Donald Trump may enjoy his alone time with Vladimir Putin, but much of his time at the G20 summit promises to be much less fun. That’s because, on issue after issue, there are two positions: Donald Trump, and everyone else.
Trump reiterated his threats on Wednesday to pull the United States back from existing trade deals, arguing they were against the national interest. As Trump threatens to retreat from global trade, other world powers are exploring new economic ties.
Europe and Japan are reaching a new NFTA-sized trade agreement while the US stands off to the side. Trump’s unwillingness to negotiate on trade, and most of all his withdrawal from the Paris agreement on climate change, has led to traditional US allies looking elsewhere for both leadership and partnerships. Angela Merkel isn’t just at the center of the G20 summit photo. She’s increasingly assuming the mantle of “leader of the free world” that Donald Trump hasn’t even attempted to assume.
Trump is attempting to set up a confrontation over Chinese steel, but even there there’s not a clear sign that he’ll find agreement.
If Trump is successful in this effort it could buttress his willingness to challenge other countries on a range of issues. But if the attempt backfires and numerous countries reject the U.S. push, it could further isolate the country.
If Trump hopes to challenge other nations to block Chinese imports, other nations are ready to challenge Trump.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who faces elections in September in a country where Trump is deeply unpopular, said she would press Trump about his trade threats as well as his recent decision to withdraw from the 2016 Paris climate agreement that aimed to curb greenhouse gas emissions. In advance of the meeting, Merkel and Trump discussed “global steel overcapacity” in a phone call on Monday, something that could become the top trade issue at the summit. Germany is a large exporter of steel and officials there worry they could be caught in any U.S. crackdown.
As Trump directs the United States into the corner, his rigid position on issues like climate change and immigration means that the nation can’t play any meaningful role in the most important topics at the summit. It puts the US in a position where it can play spoiler, but not partner.