Summary:

Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen estimates that US President Donald Trump did not give any concrete promises in his inaugural speech that would have immediate effects on co-operation. Mr Mykkänen is confident that a certain realism will set in as Mr Trump and his administration start their work. He comments on Mr Trump’s trade policies which he says seem to forget that industrial production in the United States has actually doubled since the 1980s while job losses are mainly caused by technological changes. Mr Mykkänen says that Mr Trump’s protectionist sentiment combined with the anti-trade populism around the western world are a cause of worry for Finland who lives off free export.

Media:  YLE Uutiset

Date: 20.1.2017

Journalist: Jari Strömberg

Main source: Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen