The Socialist Program with Brian Becker Asian Nations Announce Plans to Fight Trump’s Trade War
12 snips
May 7, 2025 
In this discussion, Richard Wolff, an accomplished author and co-founder of Democracy at Work, dives into the emerging trade alliances among Asian nations like China, South Korea, and Japan. He highlights their strategic move to reduce reliance on Western economies amid Trump’s tariffs. The chat explores the adverse impacts of U.S. trade deals on local industries, shifts in American political loyalties, and historical lessons from the New Deal. Wolff provides a compelling critique of capitalism and emphasizes the need for collaborative approaches to modern economic challenges.
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Asia's Trade Bloc Against US Tariffs
- Asian countries including US-occupied Japan and South Korea are uniting to build trade infrastructure away from Western dominance.
- This marks a clear reaction against US tariffs and signals the decline of the post-1945 global order.
Declining Empire's Self-Reinforcing Decline
- The decline of the US empire accelerates through its aggressive tariffs and nationalist stance.
- Other countries respond by tightening regional ties, amplifying the decline in a self-reinforcing cycle.
Supply Chains and US Nationalism Clash
- Long global supply chains prioritized profit but create vulnerability and environmental harm.
- Nationalist US trade policies threaten these chains, causing allied Asian economies to push back.