You can’t build a wall around America in the global economy

Making America great again is a bold promise. And it is a legitimate political goal, since a majority of Americans obviously believe that the USA has lost its at least some of its former greatness. It’s not a perception many countries around the world, might share, including in Europe but this of course doesn’t matter much when it comes to Americans’ self perception.

So what is this lost greatness exactly?

{mosads}Looking at the core of the respective discussion during the elections, lost American greatness seems not so much about the founding principles of America as the land of the free, including granting fundamental rights and liberties. All the political talk about limiting immigration and building walls is the direct opposite of this idea of the land of the free. 

Lost American greatness is probably also not so much about the unique idea of the American frontier, or the wish to explore new unconquered territories. Geographically, of course, this ceased to exist when the West Coast was reached. But the mentality never stopped, and it is today as strong as it ever was. Silicon Valley is the inheritance of the frontier idea, for example, and proof that America has not lost its greatness in that respect. 

Has America lost its greatness as a superpower? Surely not. America engages where American interests are concerned, including in both World Wars, in Iraq, in Afghanistan. 

So what lost greatness are we talking about? Looking at it from the other side of the pond, the most likely explanation points to a deteriorating middle class that’s afraid of losing what it’s acquired — the feeling that things might get worse rather than better. Fair enough. But it’s the same lack of greatness any middle class in Europe is experiencing at the moment. So this is not really an American issue only. 

The big question, however, is how to deal with the problem.

The American reflex of cocooning is natural. The same happens in the European Union — some member states believe that going back to nationalism will spare them from competition within the EU and give them protection against cheaper imports, bringing production and industry back home, putting them back into the jobs they lost. Brexit is just one example.

But this reflex is wrong. It’s as wrong as the idea that in a globalized world, building a fence around your internal market might improve your economic situation. The fact is, it will not. Imagine building a fence around Ohio or California. Would these states be better off with their local economy and their internal market only? Would a “Flexit” improve Florida’s economy? Surely not. 

Competition is a necessity. And it will happen with or without you. If it happens with you, you might have a chance to adapt and possibly even win. If it happens without you, you will lose. No matter what. Americans should be the first to understand that. 

Free trade agreements are not a danger. They are the solution. And Europe is America’s natural partner for that. Let’s not turn back the clock. Let’s go forward. Let’s sign the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and everything else that might follow.

America will be great again. Even for Americans.

Andreas Geiger is managing partner of Alber & Geiger, a political lobbying powerhouse and leading European government relations law firm.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill.