The opinion article by Manuel Serrano analyzes Trump's tariff intimidation strategy and its effects on the United States' allies. The author argues that when this pressure tactic succeeds, the first concession is rarely the last, creating a pattern of successive capitulations.
The central problem identified by the author is that, from the moment allies realize that yielding does not buy them anything lasting, the negotiation dynamic changes fundamentally. The perception that intimidation works without consequences can lead to a spiral of increasingly greater demands.
The text addresses the relationship between the hegemonic power and its allies in the context of international trade, questioning the long-term effectiveness of policies based on threat and economic pressure as a means of ensuring cooperation.
