Before Donald Trump arrives, US officials get busy telling Davos how ‘America First’ can coexist with free trade
Europeans lead will attempt to grab the spotlight at Davos after the leaders of India and Canada rallied on Tuesday against Trump’s protectionist stance
The United States insisted on Wednesday it was not turning its back on the world as President Donald Trump prepared to sell his “America First” message to sceptical fellow leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spent the day at Davos defending the liberal international order after a year-long assault by the US president, with Merkel warning of the “populist poison” of protectionism and Macron calling on the EU to band together.
Merkel’s remark in particular seemed to be directed at Trump, who - fresh from angering China and South Korea with new tariffs on solar panels and large washing machines - will close the annual conference with a speech promoting his ‘America First’ order on Friday.
Top US officials said his trip was intended to defend US interests while also promoting international partnerships.
“This is about an America First agenda but America First does mean working with the rest of the world,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters at the gathering of heads of government, tycoons, campaigners and celebrities.
“It just means that President Trump is looking out for American interests, no different than other leaders look out for their own.”