The Economist: Trump presidency one of top 10 global risks

The Economist magazine on Wednesday named a potential Donald Trump presidency as one of its top 10 global risks.

“In the event of a Trump victory, his hostile attitude to free trade, and alienation of China and Mexico in particular, could escalate rapidly into a trade war — and at least scupper the Trans-Pacific Partnership [TPP] between the U.S. and 11 other American and Asian states signed in February 2016,” the Economist Intelligence Unit wrote in its assessment.

{mosads}“His militaristic tendencies towards the Middle East (and ban on all Muslim travel to the U.S.) would be a potent recruitment tool for jihadi groups, increasing their threat both within the region and beyond,” it added.

The publication said it expects Trump, the GOP’s presidential front-runner, to lose to Democrat Hillary Clinton in the general election, but noted that a terrorist attack or economic downturn could help put Trump over the top.

“It is worth noting that the innate hostility within the Republican hierarchy towards Mr. Trump, combined with the inevitable virulent Democratic opposition, will see many of his more radical policies blocked in Congress — albeit such internal bickering will also undermine the coherence of domestic and foreign policy making,” the magazine said.

The Economist listed the possibility of a harsh economic slowdown in China as the top global threat.

Also listed were a new “Cold War” with Russia; currency volatility producing a corporate debt crisis; and the fracturing of the European Union.

Trump won five of six voting contests on Tuesday, further solidifying his claim for the Republican presidential nomination. He leads the race nationally by 14 points, according to a RealClearPolitics average of polls.