WTO Looks to a Future Without U.S. Leadership

“What if President Trump’s ultimate goal is to kill the World Trade Organization?” That was the question submitted by journalist Eduardo Porter in the New York Times last month. Porter’s question seemed even more to the point last week when President Trump accused the WTO of ignoring its own rules while the United States has followed them.

“Simply put,” the president said to CEOs at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, “we have not been treated fairly” by the WTO. “Organizations like the WTO can only function properly when all members follow the rules and respect the sovereign rights of every member. We cannot achieve open markets if we do not ensure fair market access. In the end, unfair trade undermines us all.”