Wu Guangqiang

jw368@163.com

DESPITE Donald Trump’s constant trumpeting of his favorite tune “Make America Great Again,” in the eyes of the rest of the world, the once-great country is drifting away from greatness day by day because of an obvious Achilles heel undermining all Trump’s efforts: the bankruptcy of U.S. national credibility.

The U.S. is increasingly burdened with two major kinds of deficits: national debts and fiscal deficits, which pose threats to the U.S. economy in the long term. Yet what is more detrimental to the fundamental interests of the U.S. is its mounting credibility deficit.

Admittedly, the U.S. had played a decisive role in shaping the new world order in terms of political, economic, scientific and cultural institutions and operation after World War II until Trump took office in 2016. Under the leadership of the U.S., various international organizations were established to ensure an open, transparent and fair administration of global affairs, including the U.N., UNESCO, IMF, WTO and the World Bank.

The U.S. was also a strong advocate and practitioner of globalization, free trade, rule of law and fair competition. With all these international organizations and rules, the world enjoyed rapid economic growth and social advancement in most parts of the world after the end of World War II.

Trump’s inauguration as U.S. president marked a major setback for globalization and other international common causes. With his favorite slogan “America First,” he, starting from his very first day in the oval office, set off on a journey of upsetting the world order his predecessors tried very hard to establish and maintain. The first executive order he signed was the withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

After that, Trump stepped out of dozens of international organizations and unilaterally revoked bilateral or multilateral agreements at a dazzling pace: NAFTA, UNESCO, Paris Climate Agreement, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, Universal Postal Union, Middle Range Guided Missile Treaty, the Iran nuclear deal and the U.N.’s Global Compact on Migration. Trump repeatedly justified his breaches of international obligations by saying that he could no longer allow his nation to be taken advantage of.

The obvious logic behind his statement is that the world’s only superpower is really a pushover who can easily be fooled or coerced into doing something against its own will. Such a notion makes everyone laugh their heads off.

There’s nothing wrong with defending one’s own interests. So do other nations, but few would do so by foul means and at the cost of others’ interests so much as the U.S.

What America has done in the trade war it inflicted on China will leave a shameful mark on it in history. The following chronological record of events shows how Trump’s administration wore off its credibility until any of its pledge or agreement is regarded incredible.

On Nov. 8, 2017, Trump started his state visit to China and three days later went home with business contracts totaling US$253 billion, not only setting a record for the two countries’ economic deals, but for the global trade. Chinese airlines would purchase 300 Boeing passenger planes, and Chinese companies would invest heavily in American oil and natural gas projects. The Chinese public felt optimistic about the prospect of China-U.S. cooperation.

Four months later, on March 22, 2018, the Trump administration announced it would impose tariffs on US$50 billion worth Chinese goods. China responded with the same move of releasing its list of US$50 billion American goods subject to the tariffs.

After two rounds of talks between top negotiators from both countries, a joint statement was made in Washington on May 19, 2018, announcing the end of the trade war with no more tariffs to be imposed.

The official pledge was soon shattered on May 29, 2018, when Trump announced 25-percent tariffs on US$500 billion worth of Chinese goods.

During the G20 Summit in Argentina in December 2018, the presidents of both countries agreed to suspend imposing additional tariffs to allow for more negotiations. Despite China’s earnest engagement in the talks in the following months, on June 15, 2019, the U.S. announced a raise in tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on US$200 billion of Chinese goods, thereby completely destroying mutual trust.

By now, few Chinese will believe Washington’ words even though Trump made a new pledge not to impose additional tariffs at the G20 Summit in Japan in June. Here is a promise for Trump: Once I catch you in one lie, I will question everything you say.

(The author is an English tutor and freelance writer.)