MIGRATION AND TERROR ARE THE CRISES OF OUR TIMES

he wise man builds bridges; the fool builds walls.” That was the sentiment splashed all over Chinese editorial pages last week, when the United States imposed 25% tariffs on some $50 billion of Chinese goods. Unfortunately, that isolationist approach extends beyond US trade policy in ways that are not just foolish, but also unethical – and they are depleting what is left of the West’s moral authority.

When it comes to trade, China of course immediately retaliated with its own tariffs on $50 billion of US imports, just as Canada, the European Union, and Mexico are retaliating for US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Such disputes, if they continue to escalate, will hurt people all over the world – not least US consumers, businesses, and workers.

Worse, in recent months, US President Donald Trump has ordered a zero-tolerance immigration policy that treats all adults crossing the border illegally – a misdemeanour – as if they were violent criminals. That has meant referring even asylum seekers for prosecution, and, most controversially, taking away their children to be detained separately. More than 2,300 minors have been placed in shelters.

Succumbing to political pressure, Trump signed an executive order stating that parents and children would be detained together. But that order itself may be illegal; while a federal court considers the issue, prosecutions will continue, and thre is no plan in place for reuniting families that have already been divided.

The Trump administration’s policy of separating families has faced heavy criticism, including from unexpected places. But the US is not alone in pursuing policies that betray values that it long espoused. In Italy, the new right-wing populist government has begun targeting the Roma population, and Matteo Salvini, the prime minister, has been turning away ships carrying rescued migrants.

Hungary, for its part, has just adopted the so-called Stop Soros Law,

NEWS OF THE WEEK

JULY 2: In a daylight dacoity, five armed bandits this morning

(July 1) made away with a steel trunk containing ~3.97,950, from a post office in Park Street. The money was meant for distribution of salary to the postal staff