Lars Felds Ordnungsruf: Zölle, Subventionen, Abschottung – der Westen greift zu den falschen Mitteln

A decade and a half ago, the aftermath of the financial crisis ushered in a new era of protectionism. Nations, both industrial and emerging, have resorted to tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers, subsidies, and industrial policy to shield domestic markets from unfavorable foreign competition. Recent milestones include the United States' trade policy, China's massive subsidies in industries crucial to the economic strength of advanced economies, and the European Union's (EU) trade and industrial policy, which aims to increase the costs for foreign competitors, often inadvertently.

Concurrently, international rivalries have escalated. China has intensified its pressure on Southeast Asian states to assert its territorial claims in the South China Sea. The border conflict between China and India has intensified. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and occupied parts of the Donbas. In February 2022, Russia's invasion of Ukraine escalated.

Iran has instigated proxy conflicts in the Middle East, culminating in the October 2023 Hamas massacre of Israelis. China is also selling its societal model as a value-based alternative to liberal Western democracies, accompanied by extensive Russian and Chinese espionage activities, disinformation campaigns on social media, and hybrid warfare in Europe, suspected to be primarily orchestrated by Russia.