Trump sparks trade war fears

They noted that the new American leader’s address focused on protecting workers and companies in the US but had little to no consideration of crucial issues such as foreign policy, core values on rights or an approach to harmony in the diverse country. 
The Thai government is preparing for possible impacts after Trump assumed office. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has called a meeting of Thai trade representatives from 47 countries worldwide.
The meeting, scheduled for February 22, was to come up with strategies to handle possible trade measures by the United States against China and other countries, Deputy Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said.
Amonthep Chawla, head of research at CIMB Thai Bank, warned that Thailand could be affected by a renewed trade war likely to be started by the Trump administration.
“It will be difficult for Thailand to escape this new round of trade war. The exporters and investors will have to prepare themselves for this,” he said.
The senior researcher also said that the new US president, in his inaugural speech, indicated that he would use protectionist measures instead of promoting free trade as previous American governments did.
“This signalled the beginning of a new trade war,” he said.
Thanet Aphornsuvan, a US expert at Thammasat University, said Trump’s inauguration speech could spur concern about America’s future.
“His rating prior to the day hit an historic low. A number of media [outlets] and academics oppose him. Protests against him were held across and outside the US. Trump himself also only spoke for his supporters,” Thanet said. “These things could be a sign of what his administration will have to go through.”
The speech could also suggest that the new president had a limited amount of historical knowledge, an academic said.
“Human rights have been a |beacon of democracy for the US. |His ancestors could also have migrated to the US following |the Marshall Plan. And now he |tries to erase all those traditions |that got him to where he is.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s remark that proclaimed the US would “unite the civilised world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth” would onlcrease potential threats toward the US itself. 
“The more he presses the military, the more terrorists will turn them as reasons [to attack],” Thanet said. “The anti-US movement will only expand if Trump’s measures are done aggressively.” 
With no reference to international order, Trump’s earlier signals suggest the return of trade wars and the US cutting tax, which could significantly affect Third World markets. “Thailand should better become more self-reliant,” he said.
Viboonpong Poonprasit, a political science lecturer also from Thammasat, said that while the word “America” was most frequently mentioned in Trump’s 1,433-word speech delivered at the US Capitol, none made clear that the US stance would undeniably rock the rest of the world. 
“He thanked citizens of the world but did not mention anything for global interests at all,” Viboonpong said. The only references to Trump’s view was how other countries could hold the US as a model of “anti-globalisation” or “no longer acting like the world police”. 
A faraway country like Thailand may not even be in Trump’s dream, he said. 
“It should be noted, however, that the US could only expect less power when it wants to share less responsibility toward the world,” he added.
The new US President also made no mention in his speech of women, blacks, Latinos and other minorities in his own country. “Trump did say that ‘When America is united, America is totally unstoppable’,” |he said. “But he did not comfort minorities and those who did not vote for the Republicans about how they would be safe and sound under his administration,” the academic said.
Trump’s attacked politicians as “all talk and no action” and said the previous government tended to play down the US having bipartisan policies. Others noted that Trump failed to comment on injustice, inequality and rights abuses.
“He isn’t ideological, indeed. I think he is rather doctrinal,” Viboonpong said. “But it could be very narrow-minded and responsive only to certain American groups that he said they were forgotten.”
Chamnan Chanruang, an independent academic and human rights activist, agreed that Trump’s note on Islamic terrorism could be dangerous.
“He cannot focus only on the US when mentioning such things,” Chamnan said. “Protectionism might be easy to understand but it’s also hard to actually practise.”
While there was expectation that the Trump administration would put less press on rights abuses against “strong” leaders in other countries, including Thailand, Chamnan, however, felt that the US policies on human rights would be intensively continued given that Trump was linked to the Republican Party, which has a record on heavy investigations into such issues.