Can the WTO live up to its mission?

Global trade tensions are on the rise since US President Donald Trump took office. The Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO) was designed to keep trade relations smooth. How much can it do? US President Donald Trump is delivering on his campaign promise and deploying sweeping tariffs to pressure neighbouring nations, transatlantic allies and rivals. Canada, Mexico, the EU and China are scrambling to respond. China has announced retaliatory tariffs on several American agricultural products. Meanwhile Canada has imposed tariffs on a series of US goods including orange juice, peanut butter and coffee. The EU is mulling how best to respond to Trump's threat of 25% tariffs on European goods. Trump’s tariffs at a glance: On February 1, Trump ordered 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as 10% tariffs on imports from China. Mexico and Canada benefited from a one-month pause to tariffs after agreeing to boost border controls. US tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico ...