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A Post-Trump Era Strategy — Building a Resilient and Self-Reliant European Economic System

Received: 4 June 2025     Accepted: 23 June 2025     Published: 22 July 2025
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Abstract

The global trading system faces its most serious disruption since the post-war Bretton Woods consensus. In the aftermath of the Trump-era protectionist wave, which saw the imposition of universal tariffs and the erosion of global trade norms, Europe must pivot decisively toward self-reliance. This white paper outlines a policy roadmap to develop a fully integrated European Free Trade Market for goods and services, eliminate internal barriers, and stimulate long-term growth through strategic public investments in energy, digital infrastructure, and manufacturing. The paper draws on public demographic data and economic indicators to support a post-austerity investment strategy. The 2025 economic landscape presents not simply a challenge but a diversifying opportunity. The paper argues that Europe can be repositioned as an innovator of sustainable and advanced economic models by integrating historical and recent data and policy proposals to aid in charting a comprehensive strategy that would lead to economic command. Moreover, the strategy outlined throughout the paper aims to enhance the internal demand within the EU (European Union) as well as advancing technological leadership and regulatory unification, thus, aiming towards strategic autonomy. Through the implementation of a tailored strategy and prioritising investments such as its demographic diversity, renewable energy initiative and digital infrastructure advancements the EU can reinforce its influence on a global scale and maintain a sustainable growth to its economy despite the new Trump-era tariffs and global economic challenges.

Published in International Journal of Business and Economics Research (Volume 14, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijber.20251404.14
Page(s) 169-178
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Europe, Trade Policy, Tariffs, Economic Resilience, Strategic Autonomy, Global Trade, Industrial Policy

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Bragagni, M., Xhaferraj, L., Levanaj, A., Bragagni, G. M. (2025). A Post-Trump Era Strategy — Building a Resilient and Self-Reliant European Economic System. International Journal of Business and Economics Research, 14(4), 169-178. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20251404.14

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    ACS Style

    Bragagni, M.; Xhaferraj, L.; Levanaj, A.; Bragagni, G. M. A Post-Trump Era Strategy — Building a Resilient and Self-Reliant European Economic System. Int. J. Bus. Econ. Res. 2025, 14(4), 169-178. doi: 10.11648/j.ijber.20251404.14

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    AMA Style

    Bragagni M, Xhaferraj L, Levanaj A, Bragagni GM. A Post-Trump Era Strategy — Building a Resilient and Self-Reliant European Economic System. Int J Bus Econ Res. 2025;14(4):169-178. doi: 10.11648/j.ijber.20251404.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijber.20251404.14,
      author = {Maurizio Bragagni and Lorenc Xhaferraj and Anja Levanaj and Giulia Maria Bragagni},
      title = {A Post-Trump Era Strategy — Building a Resilient and Self-Reliant European Economic System
    },
      journal = {International Journal of Business and Economics Research},
      volume = {14},
      number = {4},
      pages = {169-178},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijber.20251404.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20251404.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijber.20251404.14},
      abstract = {The global trading system faces its most serious disruption since the post-war Bretton Woods consensus. In the aftermath of the Trump-era protectionist wave, which saw the imposition of universal tariffs and the erosion of global trade norms, Europe must pivot decisively toward self-reliance. This white paper outlines a policy roadmap to develop a fully integrated European Free Trade Market for goods and services, eliminate internal barriers, and stimulate long-term growth through strategic public investments in energy, digital infrastructure, and manufacturing. The paper draws on public demographic data and economic indicators to support a post-austerity investment strategy. The 2025 economic landscape presents not simply a challenge but a diversifying opportunity. The paper argues that Europe can be repositioned as an innovator of sustainable and advanced economic models by integrating historical and recent data and policy proposals to aid in charting a comprehensive strategy that would lead to economic command. Moreover, the strategy outlined throughout the paper aims to enhance the internal demand within the EU (European Union) as well as advancing technological leadership and regulatory unification, thus, aiming towards strategic autonomy. Through the implementation of a tailored strategy and prioritising investments such as its demographic diversity, renewable energy initiative and digital infrastructure advancements the EU can reinforce its influence on a global scale and maintain a sustainable growth to its economy despite the new Trump-era tariffs and global economic challenges.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - A Post-Trump Era Strategy — Building a Resilient and Self-Reliant European Economic System
    
    AU  - Maurizio Bragagni
    AU  - Lorenc Xhaferraj
    AU  - Anja Levanaj
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijber.20251404.14
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    JF  - International Journal of Business and Economics Research
    JO  - International Journal of Business and Economics Research
    SP  - 169
    EP  - 178
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20251404.14
    AB  - The global trading system faces its most serious disruption since the post-war Bretton Woods consensus. In the aftermath of the Trump-era protectionist wave, which saw the imposition of universal tariffs and the erosion of global trade norms, Europe must pivot decisively toward self-reliance. This white paper outlines a policy roadmap to develop a fully integrated European Free Trade Market for goods and services, eliminate internal barriers, and stimulate long-term growth through strategic public investments in energy, digital infrastructure, and manufacturing. The paper draws on public demographic data and economic indicators to support a post-austerity investment strategy. The 2025 economic landscape presents not simply a challenge but a diversifying opportunity. The paper argues that Europe can be repositioned as an innovator of sustainable and advanced economic models by integrating historical and recent data and policy proposals to aid in charting a comprehensive strategy that would lead to economic command. Moreover, the strategy outlined throughout the paper aims to enhance the internal demand within the EU (European Union) as well as advancing technological leadership and regulatory unification, thus, aiming towards strategic autonomy. Through the implementation of a tailored strategy and prioritising investments such as its demographic diversity, renewable energy initiative and digital infrastructure advancements the EU can reinforce its influence on a global scale and maintain a sustainable growth to its economy despite the new Trump-era tariffs and global economic challenges.
    VL  - 14
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Bayes Business School, City University, London, United Kingdom

  • Esharelife Think Tank, Esharelife Foundation, London, United Kingdom

  • Esharelife Think Tank, Esharelife Foundation, London, United Kingdom

  • Esharelife Think Tank, Esharelife Foundation, London, United Kingdom

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