In 1987, Donald Trump took out a full-page advert in The New York Times and other papers to complain about how the global system was stacked against the US.
In an open letter that still defines his worldview, the 41-year-old property developer objected to the impact of a strong dollar on manufacturing, Japan’s trade surplus and the cost of military aid for allies. “End our huge deficits, reduce our taxes, and let our economy grow,” he wrote.
Nearly four decades later and emboldened by his popular vote victory in November’s election, Trump feels he is finally in a position to enact that agenda and try to reverse the course of economic history.