Escape Forward: Connecting dots beyond the antitrust island “America First” vs the “Draghi Mission”: Is the US Upending the World Order, and Can Europe Make It?
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Jul 16, 2025 
Oren Cass, Chief Economist at American Compass, offers a conservative U.S. perspective on the global stage, while Sander Tordoir, Chief Economist at the Center for European Reform, brings insights from Europe's economic challenges. The discussion covers America's shift to protectionism and its trade war implications, the impact on U.S.-Europe relations, and the need for Europe to find its footing amidst changing geopolitical dynamics. They also explore the regulatory complexities of tech giants and how intertwined antitrust issues are with international politics.
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US Ends Unipolar Hegemony
- The US sees the end of its unipolar global hegemon role as a fact, not a choice.
- It now uses tariffs to change negotiation dynamics and demand fairer trade and defense burdens from allies.
US Critique of Allies' Trade Practices
- The US views unfair behavior by allies as restricted market access, export-led mercantilism, and unequal treatment of US firms.
- This harms US economic health and justifies the use of tariffs to achieve balance.
Europe's Trade Position and Caution
- Europe sees growing pressure from China's export-led model as the main threat, not just US tariffs.
- It recognizes the complementarity of US tech and European manufacturing but is cautious about retaliating aggressively.