The surprising—many would say alarming—re-election of Donald Trump as president of the United States carries significant implications, not only for the U.S. but for the global economic order. Trump’s combative stance against market liberalism and the rule of law represents a challenge to international stability.

Trump’s persistent attacks on free trade threaten not just the American economy but the global economic system, increasing the risk of widespread human suffering. The interconnected nature of the modern economy means the negative effects on one nation inevitably ripple outward, harming others. The market-based system relies on cooperation among nations, enabling mutual benefit from shared productivity. When this system is undermined, global stability suffers.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has voiced his concerns, warning, “A trade war is being stoked between the two largest economies of the world. The consequences will affect those who have had no say, including small countries like Ghana…These events provide proof, if some were needed, that ours is an interdependent world.”

Similarly, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Óscar Arias, a former president of Costa Rica, has emphasized the importance of free trade, stating that while it is not a panacea, it “goes a long way toward alleviating poverty in Central America.” These principles apply universally to regions like Africa, Asia, and beyond. Conversely, restricted trade exacerbates poverty, particularly in developing economies.

The United States, as the largest importer of goods and services and the second-largest exporter, plays a critical role in global trade. One pressing question is whether Trump will follow through on his threats against free trade. Given his inconsistent track record and low credibility, uncertainty lingers—a scenario that by itself stifles global productivity and investment.

A Trump-led trade war would also diminish U.S. influence in Africa, potentially strengthening China’s authoritarian regime. While American investment in Africa declines, Beijing’s footprint expands. Trump’s earlier derogatory remarks about African nations only worsen this dynamic. During Trump’s previous trade war, Chinese leader Xi Jinping attended the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, pledging to counteract the adverse effects of protectionism. Protectionist policies thus risk pushing nations toward China’s sphere of influence, undermining U.S. efforts to counteract Beijing’s rise.

Vice President-elect J.D. Vance’s assertion that “Free trade is not good for the American middle class” raises critical questions. What alternatives are being proposed? Central planning and economic isolation are both untenable—the former having failed under communism and the latter amounting to economic self-destruction. Extending such logic internally would imply dismantling free trade within U.S. borders, an absurd notion that underscores the flaw in these arguments.

Another alarming aspect of Trump’s agenda involves his plans to detain millions of migrants in camps, effectively prisons. This draconian approach would burden American taxpayers with billions in additional costs while impacting global labor markets.

American agriculture, heavily reliant on migrant labor, faces dire consequences under such policies. Despite claims that migrants “steal American jobs,” the reality is that U.S. citizens largely avoid the arduous work of agriculture. Labor shortages have already led to significant crop losses. A 2017 report from California’s Santa Barbara County revealed that labor shortages forced farmers to leave between 15% and 26% of crops unharvested, translating to millions of dollars in losses. These shortages drive up food prices domestically and globally.

The United States, as the world’s largest exporter of agricultural goods, has seen food exports decline. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported a $17 billion drop in export volume compared to 2022. While this hurts American producers, it also inflates global food prices, further straining consumers worldwide.

These examples underscore how a second Trump term would harm not only the United States but the global market. The consequences of his policies would reverberate far beyond American borders, threatening economic stability and amplifying inequality worldwide.