Cargo ships full of shipping containers are seen at the port of Oakland, California, US, March 6, 2025. [Photo/Agencies]
International trade remains one of the most effective ways to create prosperity, strengthen economic ties and reduce conflict between nations, according to a leading maritime and trade analyst, who warned that rising protectionism and geopolitical tensions are reshaping the global trading system.
Speaking at the centennial celebration of World Trade Week in Los Angeles last week, Peter Tirschwell, vice-president of maritime and trade at S&P Global Market Intelligence, emphasized the enduring value of international commerce at a time when tariffs, geopolitical rivalry and supply chain disruptions are increasingly influencing trade flows.
"We believe firmly in the value of trade to expand markets, create opportunities, create interdependencies and thus bring countries and societies together," Tirschwell said. "If they trade together, then they are less likely to go to war with each other."
Tirschwell, who previously served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Commerce, said the publication has maintained a pro-trade perspective since its founding in 1827, reflecting the view that trade promotes economic growth, efficiency and international cooperation.
