Donald Trump's tariff threats hang over World Economic Forum

DW (English)

This year's World Economic Forum in Davos takes place in tense times. In addition to the crises in Ukraine and Iran, there is now the dispute over Greenland. Will Trump's visit defuse tensions or further escalate the situation?

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00:00Davos always has its precedence, and this year sees the US with its very own base of

00:05operations for the event in this church.

00:08USA House is the hub for what is the largest ever US delegation to attend the World Economic

00:13Forum, which is itself a good sign given the range of issues on the agenda, from Iran and

00:19Ukraine to Venezuela and now Greenland as well.

00:22For the organisers, Davos is the ideal setting for addressing these conflicts and exploring

00:27potential solutions.

00:29The official theme for this year's event is a spirit of dialogue, although there are

00:33doubts as to whether everyone attending prefers to talk.

00:37US President Donald Trump has threatened various European nations with new tariffs, prompting

00:41the EU to consider retaliatory measures.

00:46It seems like we are at a turning point.

00:49We don't know yet what the new reality will be like, but we know we need to brace ourselves

00:55for more turmoil and uncertainty.

00:59Alongside Trump, over 60 heads of state and government are expected in Davos, among them

01:04German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

01:09Practically all the major players are represented.

01:11Russia only minimally, although there are hopes of progress being made in the peace process

01:15with Ukraine, and of Trump promising security guarantees in any post-conflict settlement.

01:21With geopolitical crises also impacting on the global economy, the outlook is a bleak one.

01:27For some in Davos, it's not all bad news.

01:31Chaos creates opportunities, and firms that are nimble, that are willing to act fast, that

01:39are willing to act strategically, will do better.

01:42So I think this turbulence is going to increase the difference between the best, the most productive

01:51firms and those that are lagging.

01:55Of course, Trump's visit has intensified the media spotlight on Davos.

01:59Whether this year's event will be remembered for dialogue or discord remains to be seen.

02:04One thing that is beyond dispute is that there's a great deal of ice left to break.

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