The US is in a trade war with China, fueled by President Trump’s belief that tariffs will bring manufacturing jobs back to the US. Trump’s misguided view of trade is rooted in the past and ignores the position of the US dollar as the leading currency of exchange. As China works toward achieving global technological leadership, the US is fighting a war on the wrong front.  

The Corona Dispatches are short updates on the situation in different countries around the world, written by members and friends of The Policy Corner. You would like to write a dispatch for us? No problem — just get in touch with us at submissions@policycorner.org, we look forward to hearing from you!

Faced with a historic crisis spawned by COVID-19, the United States has withdrawn from its role as a moral and material leader within the international system. The EU and its Member States must react swiftly both internally and externally to address the complex challenges of the emerging multi-polar world.

Ghana’s government reacted quickly and practically to the pandemic, an approach that can serve as an example in the exchange of lessons learned between states. The country undertook a timely closure of borders, targeted lockdowns in epicenters, and enhanced contact tracing. This was made possible by allowing experts to lead the discussions and by taking into account local factors and developments.

Brazil’s government attempts to legalize extrajudicial killings by the police, legitimizing them with the ‘war on drugs.’ Leaders in the international community should instead encourage the Brazilian government to address the systemic inequality fueling drug-related crimes rather than perpetrate violence against its citizens.

As the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic, internal migrant workers in India are struggling to survive during the country’s lockdown. The central and state governments can resolve this tragedy by improving local conditions and developing inclusive policies for internal migrant workers.