The world is shifting to protectionism as it discovered that globalism improved the lives of people outside its borders greater than inside.

That worked great for natural gas from Russia…

The world's job is to contain an increasingly aggressive, expansionist China. If global trade is impacted then that is an acceptable consequence. Sometimes win-win isn't achievable and win-draw or win-lose is the best you can realistically hope for.

Should it not contain an aggressive, expansionist US?

The rest of the world is welcome to try. They might not like the results when the US Navy no longer safeguards the majority of international trade.

Ironically, China has been one of the primary economic beneficiaries of the postwar Pax Americana. Their merchant ships have been able to travel freely throughout the world without incurring the expense of building a true blue-water navy to protect them. This situation will gradually fall apart over the next few decades.

people watch too much zeihan these days. global trade was a thing even in the age of empires. it might even be a good thing to have a counterbalancing force

Global trade was far more limited prior to the establishment of US hegemony. During the age of empires, merchant vessels often had to carry weapons for protection and/or travel in escorted convoys. All of that leads to higher costs, delays, and the complete closure of indefensible routes.

No one is seriously claiming that global trade will disappear. But from a historical perspective the current frictionless system that most people take for granted is an aberration and we should expect some reversion towards the mean. Whether that's a good thing or not is a matter of perspective.

It is not the world's job to empower a dictator, nor is it in its interest.