On July 15, the Library on Gazetny hosted a public lecture “Modern Trade Wars: Local Protectionism or a Historic Turning Point?” The event drew an audience interested in global economic processes.
Alexander Knobel, Doctor of Economic Sciences and Senior Researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s International Trade Department, provided a detailed analysis of the preconditions and starting points of the current trade conflict and outlined the United States’ objectives in the trade war. Attendees learned about the key areas of confrontation, as well as the effects of the trade war from 2017 to 2020. The lecturer presented data on trade dynamics during this period and formulated key conclusions based on an analysis of the changes that occurred.
Particular attention was paid to the phenomenon of the trade war within a broad historical and economic context. Alexander Knobel cited historical precedents for trade conflicts and compared them with trends of recent decades, demonstrating how the current phase differs fundamentally from previous ones. The expert noted that the conflict between the U.S. and China has long since evolved from a purely tariff-based confrontation into a struggle over technology, supply chains, and industrial leadership, and that the geography of the conflict has rapidly expanded.
During the discussion, participants addressed the risks and opportunities these processes present for Russia, as well as their impact on value chains and third countries.