Will the WTO Survive without the United States?

Abstract

The rule-based multilateral trading system is in grave danger. The U.S. President Donald Trump has circumvented the WTO to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, including those from America's allies. Complaining of unfair treatment, the Trump administration is blocking nominations to seats on the WTO's Appellate Body, which could leave it unable to hear cases after 2019.1 Most unfortunately, the U.S. is embroiled in a trade war with China. Both sides have imposed tariffs on goods worth tens of billions of dollars and are threatening worse. Furthermore, President Trump has repeatedly suggested pulling the U.S. out of the WTO, a move that would upend the decades-old international trading order and throw world economies into chaos. Can we save the WTO?