India, April 17 -- US President Donald Trump is on a mission to decisively reshape the international economic system that the country built over the past several decades. The tariffs imposed by his administration have made it evident that the US seeks to reorder the global trading system in a manner that isolates China. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent has clearly stated: "It's not a trade war, it's about bad actors." No wonder then China faces a 245% tariff, while only 10% applies to other nations as they work out trade deals with the US.

The next few months could see the emergence of a US-led economic and security alliance that would replace the current international system. US negotiations with individual countries will be as much abo...