A warning has been issued by Prof Robert Patman regarding the potential threat of Donald Trump’s aggressive protectionism to the unity of New Zealand’s coalition government. The international relations specialist from the University of Otago highlights the tension already arising between the governing parties due to differing opinions on the global tariffs imposed by the US president.
Prof Patman suggests that the friction could escalate further due to the coalition parties’ varying long-term objectives. He predicts, “They may well have an interest in papering this over. But I don’t think Mr Luxon is going to back down on this.”
Recently, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters of New Zealand First publicly expressed contrasting views on Trump’s tariffs. Luxon referred to them as unleashing a “trade war,” while Peters criticized this description as “hysterical.”
The issue is expected to persist and potentially intensify as the smaller coalition parties, NZ First and Act Party, aim to appeal to a narrower voter base compared to the center-right National Party.
Prof Patman notes, “[Luxon] will do everything possible . . . to make sure New Zealand’s national interests are not disadvantaged by this new aggressive protectionism being pursued by Mr Trump.”
In the latest episode of Global Insight, Prof Patman also delves into the probable tough stance that Canada, under newly elected PM Mark Carney, will take against Trump; the emerging international resistance against Trump’s assault on the global rules-based order; and the anticipated role of China in this scenario.
