In June 2016, Donald Trump justified the protectionist policies during his first administration as "the quickest way to bring our jobs back to our country". This column shows that while the trade war with China failed to create jobs at home, it did boost employment in Brazil. Regions in the country specialised in industries targeted by China's trade policy towards the US experiencing a relative increase in formal employment and wage bills between 2016 and 2021. With tensions between major economies rising, policymakers in third countries should be aware not only of the risks of global fragmentation, but also of the opportunities it can create.

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9 June 2025

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Vox EU

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https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/us-china-trade-war-created-jobs-elsewhere

This Blog is published under the centre's Trade programme.