A more interconnected world is inevitable, and Trump’s repeated tariff reversals underscore this reality

There are many reasons Trump's trade agenda and overall approach to other nations is backfiring, but one stands above all: He is fighting against forces that are, in the long term, inevitable.

I'm not talking about some shadowy group or conspiracy, rather, I'm talking about the long-term trend of greater human interconnectedness.

Organized groups of humans have evolved from tiny tribes, which then became larger tribes, small communities, small towns, cities, kingdoms, nations, and now a largely interconnected global economy. While individual countries and subnational jurisdictions still exist, and while norms, laws, and living standards vary widely across the world, the trend towards greater interconnectedness is undeniable.

Wherever you are right now, look around and consider how many different people in how many different countries had to contribute to building and producing everything around you. If you're reading this on a phone, where was your phone made? What about your computer? How many people had to cooperate for that device to be in front of you now?

The more deeply we think about it, the more astounding it is. We - humanity as a whole - have built a truly immense, complex, and powerful global economy. And we've done it despite wars, pandemics, uprisings, and political movements that promised an end to deeper global integration. Even global wars, genocide, and unbridled hate have only temporarily stopped the trend of a more integrated planet, a trend that always picks back up again in the long run.

But why is this?