Trump expresses desire for a balanced trade agreement with China

Welcome to the Trump Era: The Alteration of U.S. Influence

Taking a look at the American landscape under Donald Trump, we see a noticeable shift away from conventional diplomacy and a move towards transactional, unilateral policies. Here's a peek at how things have changed over the years:

Modifying Diplomacy's Rules

Trump's "America First" initiative has placed emphasis on hard power tactics (like tariffs and sanctions) and strained long-standing alliances, thus eroding trust in traditional U.S. leadership[1][5]. The administration's disregard for global institutions like the UN and climate agreements has been a significant departure from the past, as these institutions have traditionally served to amplify U.S. influence by framing its objectives as universal goals[3][5].

Losing Credibility

Experts, such as Joseph Nye, who coined the term "soft power" at Harvard, argue that Trump's language and policies—like weaponizing migration and undermining NATO—damage the U.S.'s ability to sway others through cultural appeal or shared values[2][3][5]. This loss of credibility has paved the way for competitors like China to expand their global influence[1][5].

Foreign Policy by the Book

The Trump administration has even toyed with novel strategies, such as plans for a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, to utilize economic tools as a form of "checkbook diplomacy." However, this approach often prioritizes short-term gains over long-term relationship-building, further straining diplomatic ties[2][4].

Consequential Changes

Vacuum in Leadership: Retreats from climate accords and trade agreements have left a void that China has strived to fill[1][5].
Division amongst Allies: Public fallouts with conventional partners (e.g., Germany, Canada) have undermined collective security structures[2][3].
Change in Soft Power Instruments: Shifting towards economic coercion rather than cultural or ideological appeal marks a departure from post-WWII standards[3][4].

During this period, the U.S. has moved away from being a bridge connecting diverse nations with shared democratic values, instead opting for a hard-power approach and transactional foreign policy.

The vacuum in leadership caused by the U.S.'s retreat from climate accords and trade agreements has provided an opportunity for China to increase its global influence.
The divisive foreign policy strategies implemented by the Trump administration have led to strained relationships with traditional allies like Germany and Canada, thereby undermining collective security structures.
The shift in soft power instruments from cultural and ideological appeal to economic coercion represents a departure from post-WWII standards, showing a move towards a hard-power approach in foreign policy.
Andrews' policy-and-legislation analysis reveals that the Trump administration's emphasis on transactional foreign policies and disregard for traditional diplomacy has significantly altered U.S. influence in the global economy.
The Samsung business column in the general news section notes that the administration's "checkbook diplomacy" approach may lead to short-term gains but could negatively impact long-term relationship-building with foreign industries.
The opinion piece by Andrews argues that the Trump era's alteration of U.S. influence, characterized by a move away from orchestrating consensus on universal goals to unilateral tactics, has been detrimental to the country's standing in international politics.