We’ve often had our disagreements with President Trump on tariffs, but his trade policies on tech issues have reduced trade barriers and ensured America remains dominant. Former Deputy U.S.Trade Rep Karan Bhatia, now at Google, makes the case that the Trump administration has been quietly establishing a global order for digital trade that is critical for US interests:

Since President Trump returned to the White House, Washington’s trade debate has revolved around tariffs. But something much more consequential has been unfolding. The administration is building what could become the foundation of a global trading system for the age of artificial intelligence.

Through nine agreements on reciprocal trade and a growing number of preliminary framework agreements with key partners, the administration is modernizing international trade rules for an economy driven by data, software, cloud computing and AI. If this effort succeeds, it may become the administration’s most lasting and beneficial trade achievement. The trade rules governing data, AI and digital commerce will help determine who leads the world’s economy in coming decades… Taken together, the agreements constitute the outline of a modern trading framework for the AI era.