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Yesterday, US President Donald Trump announced the most massive USA tariffs for this century (see Donald Trump announces ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs and the world will look to be liberated from USA trade dependence).

Here is information on #8 of my list of 25 items to prophetically watch in 2025:

8. Trade

Not all warfare is militaristic. There is also economic warfare.

This often involves trade.

The major use of sanctions, mainly pushed by the USA, has been continuing.

This is affecting trade and pushing trade away from the USA. But also encouraging the Anglo-nations to try to increase trade with each other.

Back in 2008, I posted the following:

In the spirit of accommodation and personal interest, many of the “standards” of the European Union will be adopted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, as well as by nearly all of the countries of the world. The Arab nations will most likely agree with many of the standards as they seem to be destined to form a brief end-time alliance with the Europeans (The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy).

However, over time, it will become increasingly clear that the British will be in more agreement with the Canadians and Americans and that the European Union in more agreement with the Mexicans than the EU will have with the English-speaking nations.

Trade wars and/or serious trade disputes will most likely arise.

The Brits will ultimately decide that they are more supportive of the Americans and Canadians. They will be so much more supportive that they will end up in a trading agreement with them (with the Australians and New Zealanders probably also becoming part of that agreement).

The EU will decide that Mexico and the rest of Latin America are in more agreement with it and thus make some type of serious trading agreement with most (or all) of Latin America. The Vatican will also have influence here as Latin America is highly Roman Catholic.

The Europeans and Americans, however, will continue to have military agreements, though many will be tense about them. (Thiel B. A Combined EU & North American Trade Block Coming? COGwriter.com, March 3, 2008)

Since the above was posted, the Europeans and Americans continue to have military agreements, the UK essentially reduced its trade from the rest of Europe because of Brexit, today we see a UK-NZ trade deal, the EU has made trade deals with Mexico and Latin America (see EU’s Juncker essentially verified accuracy of 2008 COGwriter prediction on trade), the USA made a new trade deal with Canada (see Brexit: ‘The end is nigh’ and Donald Trump signs Canada-Mexico trade deal), the UK and EU continue to have trade friction (see DW: EU-UK trade war looming as Northern Ireland Protocol tensions hit boiling point), and the EU has continued to push its standards (which is one of the reasons there is an issue related to Brexit and Northern Ireland). In 2021, the UK made deals with New Zealand (see CNN: New Zealand and the United Kingdom reach free trade deal) and Australia (see UK & Australia make trade deals, so?). And the USA made a special deal with the UK and Australia (see AUKUS alliance; EU wants its own stronger military).

Expect the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to try to increase trade with each other.

Donald Trump feels that the USA and UK have a special relationship and he will look to make a more favorable trade deal with the UK than with the rest of Europe.

And Europe?

Well, Donald Trump’s reelection is a major concern for Europe and its trade.

In 2018, I wrote:

The Europeans have been working with Latin America, China, Russia’s Eurasian Union, and other areas of the world to try to set up its dominance of world trade as well as standards for world trade. (19 items to prophetically watch in 2019)

Such deals have been happening. But expect more concrete action, at least partially because of the reelection of Donald Trump, along with J.D. Vance.

Europe will reach out to various ones in Asia and Africa, as well as Latin America. In the next several years, deals and more trade will occur with Africa, Asia, and Latin America. …

Expect more trade conflict between Europe and the USA and UK.

The Bible shows that Europe will, for a time, dominate trade (cf. Revelation 17 and 18). …

That said, in 2025 Europe will work on getting more of the world to accept its standards and trading matters. This will help Europe ultimately dominate trade.

The reelection of Donald Trump will motivate many to trade with each other because of his threats of tariffs, etc.

For a time, Babylon will dominate world trade:

2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” (Revelation 18:2-3).

While ‘Babylon’ will not fully reign in 2024, with the USA pulling out of trade deals and/or wishing to change them, steps are occurring that are pushing Europe to dominate trade (watch Trade Wars: Are COG warnings coming to pass?).

The final time of the Gentiles is approaching. We are seeing BRICS, the Global South, the EU, and others working on ways to trade and not have to deal with the descendants of Ephraim (UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) and Manasseh (the USA).

The Europeans will work with many nations to secure stronger trade agreements.

The above list was post in December of 2024.

Since then, many things have happened. Here are some reports:

World leaders criticise Trump tariffs as ‘major blow’

3 April 2025

Donald Trump’s decision to impose new tariffs on all goods entering the US is a “major blow to the world economy”, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has said.

Her comments echo those of a number of other countries, including China, which has expressed its opposition to the move and has warned it will take “resolute countermeasures” against the US. …

A Downing Street source told the BBC that the UK’s lower tariff “vindicates” the government’s recent efforts towards a trade deal with the US.

On Thursday, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reiterated that he would “fight” to secure a trade deal with the US but added that the government would respond with “cool and calm heads”. …

Noticeably, the US’s two biggest trade partners, Canada and Mexico, were not mentioned in Wednesday’s announcements. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgql020y5lo

Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament …

Today, I would like to focus on the threats to global prosperity and stability and the rise of protectionism. And as our domestic agenda cannot be seen separately from global developments around us, let me start with the US tariffs. …

Europe did not start this confrontation. We think it is wrong. But my message to you today is also that we have everything we need to protect our people and our prosperity. We have the largest Single Market in the world. We have the strength to negotiate. …

Trade goes to where the business case is. We will open doors towards fast-growing markets across the world. Europe already has trade agreements in place with 76 countries. And we are now growing this network. We just concluded trade deals with Mercosur, Mexico and Switzerland. We launched the first-ever Clean Trade and Investment Partnership with South Africa. We aim to conclude a trade agreement with India by the end of the year. We are in intense negotiations with Indonesia and Thailand. And later this week, President Costa and I will head to Samarkand, for the first-ever summit between the European Union and Central Asia. Europe has always been a trading continent. Let us connect with the new beating hearts of the global economy. Our message is clear: Europe is reliable, predictable and open for fair business. 03/20/25 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/sv/speech_25_938

Von der Leyen arrives in India to ‘strengthen partnership’

27 February 2025

The EU is seeking to diversify its partnerships in the face of possible tariffs from Washington. …

The EU and India are seeking to expedite a long-delayed free trade agreement, as well as achieve strategic alignment in the face of tariffs announced by Washington. …

https://www.dw.com/en/von-der-leyen-arrives-in-india-to-strengthen-partnership/a-71768504

BEIJING, March 29 (Reuters) – Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met visiting European Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maros Sefcovic …

Top officials in Beijing and Europe are looking for common ground despite long-running trade disputes as the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump threatens to upend transatlantic ties and global trade. https://www.reuters.com/world/china-eu-discuss-level-playing-field-trade-eus-sefcovic-says-2025-03-29/

So, the UK and Canada were not hit very hard and my warning that Europe would trade more with Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Mexico is coming to pass.

My post also mentioned BRICS. Notice the following:

Indonesia Told to Get Closer to BRICS After Trump Unveils 32 Pct Tariffs

3 April 2025

A senior economist said Thursday that Indonesia should try to get much closer to the China-led BRICS trade-wise after US President Donald Trump launched sweeping tariffs on nearly all of Washington’s trading partners. …

Speaking to the Jakarta Globe, analyst Bhima Yudhistira said … “… Indonesia’s next move should be to strengthen its intra-trade and investment cooperation with BRICS nations. This BRICS bloc is quite prospective amid the trade war waged by the US. We can also reach out to the Middle East or the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] as an alternative,” …

BRICS has Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as its early members. The United Arab Emirates (UAE),  Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, and Indonesia eventually belong to this group of emerging economies. https://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesia-told-to-get-closer-to-brics-after-trump-unveils-32-pct-tariffs

Trump is pushing more allies to china..this is bad. Japan, south Korea and China’s trade ministers of the three economic powers holding hands in a collective gesture of Asian defiance.

It is one of the most striking economic defeats suffered by America that I have witnessed in more than 40 years covering international affairs, Trump’s “liberation day” cuts two ways. …

{Michael Gasiorek, the director of the UK Trade Policy stated} “For all intents and purposes, the US is now a rogue nation when it comes to trade,” 04/02/25 https://www.facebook.com/groups/2431014163858515/posts/3711973272429258/

Consider also the following:

China, EU vow counter measures as global trade war heats up

China’s Ministry of Commerce urged the U.S. to “immediately cancel” its unilateral tariff measures and vowed to take “resolute counter-measures” to safeguard its own rights and interests, after U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled what analysts described as the steepest tariff hikes in a century. …

Separately, the European Union is preparing further countermeasures against U.S. tariffs if negotiations fail, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/02/trump-tariffs-live-updates.html

There is an old adage in geopolitics that the enemy of your enemy is your friend.

One of the unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s statements and tariffs is pushing nations and blocks of nations further away from the USA and closer to each other.

This will not end will for the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39; Isaiah 10:5-11; Psalm 83:4-8).

In the Continuing Church of God:

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19, KJV)

Biblical prophecies will come to pass.

We continue to see steps that are aligning with them.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025 at 6:30 am and is filed under Prophecy.

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