U.S. President Donald Trump will be skipping the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, amid the partial government shutdown. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other White House officials may join the forum, which will take place from Jan. 22 to Jan. 25, but the president said he will not be in attendance. This foreshadows the likelihood that the shutdown will continue past the dates of the summit.
Missing out on the forum means missing out on potential trade deals and information from other leaders, crippling the U.S.' scope on international business. While the president has been engaging in trade wars with countries like China and pulling out of trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the forum could have been an opportunity to learn more about international trade and communicate directly with global peers. The president attended the forum last year, where he delivered a speech with an "America first" theme to several international attendees.
The annual meeting brings together leaders from all parts of the world, including heads and members from more than 100 governments, leaders of international organizations, young global leaders and more, according to the forum's website.
—Christie Citranglo, editorial associate