Trade wars: protectionism, trade imbalance, economic sanctions

Abstract

The article is aimed at analyzing the key factors that lead to economic conflicts between countries. The article considers three main elements that cause trade wars: protectionism, imbalance in trade and economic sanctions. The focus is on the overall impact of these factors on the global economy and international trade relations. Protectionism is considered as a strategy of the state aimed at protecting the domestic market from foreign competition by introducing various restrictive measures, such as duties, quotas and subsidies. These measures help to support national producers, but at the same time can create tension in relations with trading partners who face obstacles to their exports. The article analyzes how imbalances can cause economic tension and lead to the introduction of trade restrictions by states that are trying to reduce their deficit or surplus in trade. It highlights how this factor affects world markets and the overall stability of international trade. Economic sanctions, as an instrument of foreign policy and economic influence, are also a key topic of the article. Sanctions are used by states to pressure other countries to achieve certain political or economic goals. The opinion is emphasized that trade conflicts can lead to an increase in the risks of global supply chains, an increase in prices for goods, a reduction in investment and an aggravation of international relations. Such wars can have unpredictable consequences, affecting not only the immediate participants in the conflict, but also third countries dependent on international trade. As a conclusion, despite the fact that protectionism, sanctions and measures to correct the trade imbalance are often used as tools to protect national interests, their use can lead to destabilization of the global economy. The relevance of this topic is due to the growing number of trade conflicts in the modern world, which undermine the stability of the global economy and complicate international cooperation.