Trump the populist descends on globalist Davos

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday morning for the World Economic Forum, vowing to talk up his protectionist 'America first'agenda to an international crowd largely in favour of a more globalized world.

That looming contrast of positions is why Trump's attendance here has been so highly anticipated. It's not just because he is the first sitting U.S. president to go to the forum since Bill Clinton in 2000.

Laura Dawson, director of the Canada Institute at the WilsonCenterin Washington, D.C., says that leaders like Trump like to crowabout how well their economy is doing and give full credit to their nationalist plans but fail to credit the deep ties that link countries together.

"All of the world's leaders, virtually, are celebrating the improvement and recovery in the global economy, but it's also giving space forthe nationalists and populists to say, 'Hey this is because of our 'America first'or 'U.K. first'policies," said Dawson.

"Butit's been a lot ofglobalistictendencies, economic integration, economic co-operation that has helped to produce this economic recovery."

That analysis hasn't swayed the Trump administration, but the president's team will still be well represented at the global economic summit, which will see more than 2,500 people take part.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, just one of the heavy-hitters in Trump's cabinet slated to attend,arrived in Davos on Wednesday.

"It's going to be terrific. We have a great story to tell, couldn't be happier to be here. It's really all about economic growth, opportunities to invest, free and fair trade and we're looking forward to it."

Of course, there's been a great deal of speculation about how Trump will be received.

For Mnuchin's part, he doesn't appear worried.

"I think he's going to have lots of good interactions."

In addition to Mnuchin, there is Trump's Chief of Staff John Kelly, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, U.S. Trade Representative Robert LIghthizer, National Security Advisor General HR McMaster and senior adviser and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

'America first is not America alone'

National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn is also in Davos. At a White House press briefing on Tuesday, Cohn framed the president's America first agenda in a more global light.

"America first is not America alone," Cohn said. "When we grow, the world grows. When the world grows, we grow. We're part of it, and we're part of a world economy and the president believes that."

He defended the administration's recent slapping of tariffs on washing machines and solar panels.

"We are very open to free, fair, reciprocal trade. If you treat us one way, we will treat you the same way. If you have no tariffs, we will have no tariffs. If you have tariffs, we should have a reciprocal tariff. It's hard to argue against that, that we should treat each other equally.That's our trade policy.That's our trade premise.The president is going to keep going on that."

No Trudeau-Trump meeting planned

Trudeau has no meeting planned with Trump while their time in Davosoverlaps Thursday. Trudeau is set to depart in the evening, meaning he will miss Trump's closing speech on Friday.

Trudeau instead has more bilateral get-togethers with top business leaders in his bid to attract more investment to Canada. One government official pointed to Trudeau'smeeting with Jacob Wallenburg, chairman of Investor AB, as significant for Canada and one the government hopes will yield results.

The prime minister is also part of a panel discussionwith Nobel Peace Prize winner MalalaYousafzaiabout the education and empowerment of girls. Yousafzaiwas shot in the head by the Taliban on her way to school in 2012.