Protectionist stance to 'make US fall again'

Japan should bolster ties with China to help shape new world order, experts say

The protectionist stance of the United States government will possibly make the US decline again as it is increasingly at odds with the global trend toward multilateralism and free trade, say Japanese experts.

They said under the slogan "Make America Great Again", abbreviated as MAGA, the US is leaning toward nationalism, a shift that has raised concern among many countries.

"The US policy of imposing high tariffs shook the world," said Kumiko Haba, professor emeritus of international relations at Aoyama Gakuin University. "As a result, the US made a bilateral deal to its advantage and tried to make MAGA a reality. But in effect, it has prepared the US economy for a decline. It looks like 'Make America Fall Again.'"