At the 2025 International Democrat Union (IDU) Alliance Forum held in Brussels, former Vice President of Ghana and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, joined an elite panel of global leaders to deliberate on the topic, “Trade Wars, Tariff Battles and the New Geoeconomic Order: How to Restore Stability.”
In his compelling address, Dr. Bawumia offered a critical analysis of contemporary global trade tensions, particularly the fallout from major disputes like the US-China tariff standoff. He emphasized that trade imbalances are fundamentally rooted in macroeconomic disparities, and warned that imposing tariffs cannot rectify such structural issues.
“Tariffs cannot fix macroeconomic imbalances, and history has consistently shown that attempts to do so are bound to fail,” he stated, calling for deeper strategic engagement and policy realism among global powers.
Dr. Bawumia also highlighted a more subtle yet damaging dynamic he termed “Mutually Assured Suspicion,” suggesting that widespread mistrust among major economic actors is undermining trade negotiations. “At the heart of trade wars and negotiations is the issue of trust,” he said. “This mutual suspicion breeds suboptimal outcomes and must be urgently addressed if stability is to be restored to the global trading system.”
He called on global stakeholders to prioritize rebuilding confidence and transparency in international commerce, suggesting that meaningful progress hinges not just on policy, but on rebuilding faith among nations.
The IDU Forum 2025 brought together conservative and center-right political thought leaders, economists, and diplomats to discuss pressing global challenges, from trade and security to democratic governance and innovation.
Dr. Bawumia’s insights underscored his growing influence on the global stage as a thought leader on economic reform, international relations, and digital transformation in Africa.
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