Donald Trump is undermining the fight against corruption

Senate vote to repeal law forcing US energy and mining companies to disclose payments to foreign governments has gladdened the hearts of kleptocrats

Corruption is a curse. It stunts development, breeds conflict in fragile states, makes taxpayers in rich countries dubious about providing aid to poor countries, and gives crooked firms an advantage over those that play by the rules.

Governments have become less tolerant of dirty business dealings over time, as Rolls-Royce has found to its cost. The aerospace company - one of the UK's genuinely world class manufacturing firms - will this week announce one of Britain's biggest ever corporate losses, in part the result of the 671m cost of settling bribery actions.

To argue that easing up on the fight against corruption is good for business is to turn truth on its head

Related: Bribery and Brexit propel Rolls-Royce towards historic losses