One response to Trump's tariffs: Trade that excludes the US

As President Donald Trump last weekend opened what could become a global trade war, a growing number of countries, including the United States' closest allies, are forging their own economic partnerships without the United States.

- PATRICIA COHEN

If Washington is putting up a higher fence around its trade, other nations are lowering theirs.

In just the last two months, the European Union concluded three new trade deals.

The bloc, completing negotiations that started 25 years ago, reached a major agreement with four South American countries in December to create one of the world's largest trade zones, linking markets with 850 million people.

Two weeks later, the EU struck a deal with Switzerland. Then last month, the bloc bolstered trade arrangements with Mexico. It also resumed talks, after a 13-year postponement, on a free-trade agreement with Malaysia.