Latvia's ex-president warns of U.S. trade weaponization


BAKU, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Vaira Vike-Freiberga, former president of Latvia, warned of an ongoing tendency in the United States to weaponize trade routes and relations, on Thursday at the 13th Global Baku Forum held in the Azerbaijani capital city.

Vike-Freiberga, also co-chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC), criticized the United States for misunderstanding the meaning of tariffs and taxes and the difference between them, as well as an inability to accept the equality and mutual respect that allies and other countries owe to each other.

She also said that true greatness should be rooted in merit and achievement rather than denigration of others.

The 13th Global Baku Forum, organized by the NGIC, is running until March 14 under the theme "Bridging Divides in a World in Transition."

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