Trump’s global tariff policy signals end of globalization as UK reacts

British leaders acknowledge shifting world order under Trump's economic nationalism.

Signatures cover a bus featuring Donald Trump's face, as Trump memorabilia is displayed for sale during the second day of CPAC 2024 at the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, on February 22, 2024. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Nur

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Trump’s global tariff policy signals end of globalization, according to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who wrote in the Sunday Telegraph that "the world as we know it has changed." His stark words reflect growing unease in the United Kingdom about the global economic order’s rapid transformation under Donald Trump’s renewed America-first policies.

Starmer’s comment underscores a widespread belief that the long-standing era of liberalized global trade, championed for decades by Western powers like the United States and the UK, is now under threat. With Trump once again leading the conversation on global trade, the UK is not just watching from the sidelines—it is grappling with what comes next.

A turning point in global economics

At the heart of this shift is Trump’s aggressive tariff policy, aimed at protecting American industries by imposing import taxes on foreign goods. While touted as a method to bring jobs back to the US, this policy has triggered a broader rethinking of how globalization works—and for whom.

The consequences of these tariffs are not confined to American shores. British policymakers are increasingly acknowledging that the global marketplace has shifted in ways that may be permanent. Darren Jones, the UK’s First Secretary to the Treasury, echoed this sentiment when he stated during a BBC interview that “globalization, as we have known it for the last few decades, is over.”

His remark came in response to a question from journalist Laura Kuenssberg, who asked whether the days of easy access to cheap goods—like fast fashion, televisions, and cars—are truly behind us. Jones didn’t hesitate to agree, noting that Trump’s policies had changed the global economic landscape in real terms, not just in theory.

The Trump effect: A deliberate reversal

What makes Trump’s tariff policy so disruptive is that it doesn’t just tinker with trade balances; it seeks to overturn decades of economic consensus. Since the late 20th century, globalization has been the dominant model for economic development. It promoted open borders, free markets, and international cooperation—principles embraced by Western democracies, including the US itself.

Trump, however, has cast this model aside in favor of populist nationalism. His “America First” stance reimagines the US not as a global leader in cooperative trade, but as a fortress that protects its industries, workers, and economic destiny.

This philosophy is at the core of what many call Trumpism—a political and economic framework that prioritizes national sovereignty over international engagement. While Trump’s rhetoric often paints globalization as an external threat to American prosperity, the deeper narrative seeks to assign blame to foreign nations for domestic struggles, such as job losses and wage stagnation.

In Trump’s worldview, America’s economic decline wasn’t caused by automation or internal policy failures, but by unfair trade agreements, foreign exploitation, and outsourcing. And it is this belief that fuels his global tariff policy.

Britain’s complicated position

For the UK, which has long maintained strong economic ties with both the EU and the US, Trump’s global tariff policy presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Post-Brexit Britain is actively trying to carve out a new role on the world stage, often positioning itself as a global trading partner in search of new deals.

However, Trump's trade strategy complicates these ambitions. By shifting the focus toward protectionism and bilateral negotiations, his approach undermines multilateral agreements that have historically benefited the UK.

Moreover, Trump’s unpredictability makes it harder for British officials to plan long-term strategies. With tariffs applied and lifted at his discretion, economic forecasting becomes difficult, and investor confidence can waver. This unpredictability, combined with a weakening of the World Trade Organization’s influence under Trump, has left many governments, including the UK’s, in a state of strategic uncertainty.

A wider global response

The UK is not alone in reacting to Trump’s global economic shift. Across Europe and in parts of Asia, leaders are reassessing their dependency on the American market and reconsidering supply chains that once seemed invulnerable.

The European Union, for example, has increased discussions around economic “de-risking” from China and the US, seeking to diversify its trade portfolio and reduce exposure to unilateral trade decisions made in Washington or Beijing. Meanwhile, nations like India, Japan, and South Korea are bolstering their own domestic industries in preparation for what many see as a long-term trend toward economic self-reliance.

In this evolving landscape, Trump’s tariff policy is more than just a set of import taxes—it’s a philosophical break with the global order built in the post-war era. That order, built on cooperation, integration, and shared prosperity, is now giving way to a more fragmented, competitive world.

The ideological roots of Trumpism

To understand the durability of Trump’s global tariff policy, one must delve into the ideological foundations of Trumpism itself. It blends economic nationalism, skepticism of global institutions, and a transactional view of diplomacy. Under this model, every trade agreement is measured not by mutual benefit, but by how much it directly serves American interests.

This has led to a worldview where traditional allies are sometimes treated with the same suspicion as strategic rivals. The focus is on leverage, not loyalty. Deals are temporary, not enduring partnerships.

This transactional approach contrasts sharply with the long-held belief that globalization fosters peace and prosperity through interdependence. Trump, and those who share his vision, reject that premise entirely.

Where do we go from here?

The question now facing global leaders—especially those in Western democracies like the UK—is how to adapt to this new era. If globalization as we know it is truly over, what comes next? Will there be a new model of economic cooperation, or will each nation retreat into its own sphere of interest?

For the UK, navigating this uncertain future will require balancing national interests with global responsibilities. It must engage with emerging powers while maintaining transatlantic alliances. It must protect its industries without becoming isolated. And it must decide whether to follow Trump’s lead or forge a distinct path.

Trump’s global tariff policy signals end of globalization not just in economic terms, but in the very ideology of how the world trades and cooperates. For Britain and other nations, the writing on the wall is clear: the age of predictable, borderless commerce is fading, and a new era of economic nationalism is rising.

Keir Starmer and Darren Jones are among the first prominent voices in the UK to say it outright. As this shift unfolds, more leaders will have to confront the reality that globalization is no longer the force it once was. The future may belong not to those who cling to the past, but to those who can adapt with clarity, courage, and conviction.