POR RICARDO GAITÁN BRAND ANALYST T he answer to the question that heads this analysis could be: never! 2025 was etched into the collective memory due to the im- pact of the tariffs implemented du- ring President Trump’s second term. These measures not only affected the usual flow of imports and exports but also altered the dynamics of the rules-based international order that had guaranteed the stability of the global economy for 80 years. The Origin of Economic Cooperation The global order that emerged after World War II was based on the Bretton Woods system, a model designed to provide financial stability and promo- te free trade. This scheme made the do- llar the international reference curren- cy, facilitating economic transactions among countries and strengthening global financial integration. Its pillars were the General Agree- ment on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) established in 1947. The measure promoted negotiations between How Can We Forget 2025? World leaders seek alternatives to preserve the balance and competitiveness of global trade. countries to lower trade barriers and reduce tariffs, with the support of key financial institutions such as the In- ternational Monetary Fund (IMF) for exchange rate stability and the World Bank for reconstruction. In this way, economic cooperation was promoted to avoid protectio- nism. These foundations laid in the mid-20th century consolidated the “golden age” of capitalism and eco- nomic growth, mainly in the Western Hemisphere. Spirit of Dialogue However, the beginning of 2026 brought renewed global hope: the Davos Forum, held January 19-23 in Switzerland, under the slogan “A Spi- rit of Dialogue.” This event focused on rebuilding trust and global coope- ration in response to recent profound geopolitical changes. The debate sparked by the United States’ unilateral decisions highligh- ted international concern about the scale of their effects. In this context of tension and uncertainty, streng- thening dialogue and international cooperation becomes essential to address shared economic challenges. In Search of Global Balance The renewed hope embodied by the Davos Forum reflected precisely the 38 • March | April 2026 • abasto.com importance of rebuilding trust and promoting joint solutions to the re- percussions of unilateral policies, re- affirming the value of collaboration in restoring global balance. In short, Davos established itself as the appropriate forum for world leaders to meet and discuss viable al- ternatives to preserve global balance and competitiveness. This meeting took place amid an international situation marked by high tension and so-called “market turmoil,” the result of recent profound geopolitical and economic changes. Trump’s Protectionism The MAGA initiative, promo- ted by President Trump under the slogan “Make America Great Again,” prioritizes pro- tecting U.S. interests and see- ks to regain its supremacy as a world power. This approach, far from conso- lidating its leadership in the in- ternational context, has raised questions about its position and credibility, especially in li- ght of the effects of unilateral measures such as tariffs and the breakdown of the Bretton Woods system. • ADVICE