Write to letters@thetimes.co.ukSir, Donald Trump has paused his “reciprocal” tariffs and claims that more than 70 countries want to negotiate their abolition. The pause inadvertently takes the US back towards the cardinal rule of the world trading system: non-discrimination among sources of imports (the “most favoured nation” clause). It gives hope that the global trading system might survive to 2029, but that now depends on others. Their negotiations should: pause retaliation (except China), although keep it ready; commit and then ensure that negotiated outcomes will be non-discriminatory, or at least satisfy World Trade Organisation rules for free trade agreements; ensure that outcomes where WTO rules are absent are not explicitly at the expense of other partners; reject any US request to penalise trade with

Source: The Times April 16, 2025 23:04 UTC