Istanbul: While President-elect Donald Trump is expected to draw the sword of protectionism in the coming years, experts are concerned about possible trade tensions, particularly between the US, Europe, and China. According to Anadolu Agency, Ilter Turan, emeritus professor in social sciences, emphasized that Trump's reelection signifies a move towards protecting the American market through tariffs, aligning with his promise to "Make America Great Again." The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry's President, Peter Adrian, expressed concerns about the impact of Trump's win on trade, especially with Europe. Markets are bracing for potential disruptions in Germany's industrial sector due to expected high tariffs, which could trigger a slowdown in investments and fuel uncertainty. Max Gillman, a professor of economic history at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, highlighted the potential increase in tariffs on China, which might escalate economic tensions and disrupt global trade balances. He noted that while Western economists believe China has violated WTO agreements, tariffs could dampen China's economic activity, affecting global growth and reducing financing for China's military. Gillman also mentioned that Trump's approach might lead to more direct confrontations with autocratic regimes such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, potentially fostering a more peaceful global era that expands trade across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Hakan Cinar, head of an export association in Trkiye, shared concerns about Trump's belief that the global trade system harms the US. Cinar anticipates Trump might continue imposing high tariffs, restructuring trade around domestic production, which could impact Trkiye's trade dynamics with the US. Regarding Trkiye-US relations, Turan noted the potential challenges for Trkiye as the US is a significant market. The introduction of new tariffs might hinder Trkiye's trade aspirations, particularly towards achieving a bilateral trade target of $100 billion set during Trump's previous tenure. Gillman, however, sees potential benefits for Trkiye from Trump's economic policies, which might promote global economic growth and trade. He expects these policies to lower energy costs and encourage more foreign direct investment in Trkiye. Cinar, however, expressed concerns over maintaining the positive trade surplus Trkiye achieved with the US under Joe Biden in Trump's second term. The total foreign trade volume between the two countries grew significantly under Biden, but there's uncertainty about sustaining this growth with Trump's protectionist stance.