How Trump 2.0 Redefines Global Trade

The contemporary international trade landscape is currently being redefined by a "Neo-mercantilist" paradigm under US President Trump 2.0. Recent reports from República Daily (Jan 25, 2026) and CNN International (Jan 27, 2026), among others, delineate a high-stakes "Tariff Saga," characterized by aggressive protectionist measures intended to reassert American economic hegemony. Specifically, Trump’s threats of a 100 percent punitive tariff on Canadian imports, contingent upon Ottawa’s pursuit of a trade accord with Beijing, serve as a stark instrument of geopolitical leverage. Simultaneously, the escalation of duties on South Korean commodities from 15 to 25 percent underscores a transactional approach to diplomacy, with President Trump citing Seoul’s legislative inertia regarding "Reciprocal Tariffs" on automobiles, lumber, and pharmaceuticals as a breach of bilateral fidelity.