At the start of this century, the internet enhanced global communication, and the world transitioned into one massive economy. But this new landscape came at a cost, and after years of hardships, including terrorist threats, domestic recession, income gaps and divisive politics, the country is now turning its focus inward on “America First” economics.1
The United States has pulled away from some global trade agreements and enacted higher tariffs on imported goods, presenting an interesting conundrum for investors, who were advised for years to diversify portfolios to take advantage of international holdings.2
If investors mirror the federal government’s economic policies by focusing only on U.S. holdings, they could stand to lose out on both the advantages of diversification and the opportunity for positive performance by companies abroad.3 If you’re wondering how current U.S. policies might affect your investment strategy, please contact us for a comprehensive portfolio review.
The U.S. isn’t the only country focusing on more populist policies. Since the United Kingdom (U.K.) voted to exit the European Union, there has been a trend of decentralization. London has previously led the way in European entrepreneurialism and technology, but the U.K.’s separation efforts sparked an outcrop of new tech startups in Eastern European countries previously off the IT radar.4
Don’t count the U.K. out, though — it recently launched major investments into the artificial intelligence field, putting together a $1.4 billion deal that could potentially launch U.K. companies to the forefront of AI technology.5
The tech industry has also grown in Latin America, where international investment in Latin American startups have doubled since 2013.6
India and France have joined forces to advance renewable energy in the world’s electricity markets.7 However, when it comes to the renewable energy market, China is poised to become the new world leader now that the U.S. has pulled back its investment interest.8
