Featured analysis

Secondary Sanctions: A First Glance

Econographics Aug 22, 2025

Trump’s challenges to the Fed’s independence loom over Jackson Hole Symposium

By Alisha Chhangani

As Trump tests the limits of what he can do, the credibility of the Fed—and by extension, global financial stability—is increasingly at risk.
Economy & Business International Markets
Secondary Sanctions: A First Glance

Econographics Jul 17, 2025

Charting a strategic path for Syria’s postwar reconstruction

By Kimberly Donovan, Jonathan Panikoff, Lize de Kruijf, Manal Fatima

As Syria emerges from over a decade of conflict, easing sanctions by the United States, the European Union (EU), and other European partners is an important step toward reintegrating Syria into the global economy. Yet, for a country that has been economically isolated for over fourteen years, lifting sanctions is only the beginning.
Economic Sanctions Economy & Business
Secondary Sanctions: A First Glance

Fintech Frontlines Jul 8, 2025

Stablecoins are trending, but what frictions and risks are getting overlooked?

By Ashley Lannquist

Stablecoin usage is complex for consumers, and large-scale adoption could introduce new challenges for financial stability and regulatory oversight.
Digital Currencies Economy & Business

COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Econographics deep dives

Special sections that go inside the Chinese economy, the evolution of sanctions, and the future of money.

 

Sinographs

In-depth analysis of economic and financial trends in the Chinese economy.

Fintech frontlines

Research and analysis on the intersection of technology and policy developments in finance.

Global sanctions dashboard

Monthly analysis of global sanctions regimes—highlighting new listings, delistings, and the motivations behind these changes.

Latest analysis

Econographics

Dec 3, 2021

The RCEP ratification and its implications

By Niels Graham

On January 1, 2022 the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement will go into effect. When it enters into force, the partnership will be doubly historic: it will be both China’s first multilateral trade agreement and the world’s largest free trade agreement.

China
Economy & Business

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Nov 19, 2021

AC GeoEcon Explores the Sanctions Response to the Belarus-Poland Border Face-Off

By Daniel Fried, Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Distinguished Fellow and former State Dept. Sanctions Coordinator Ambassador Daniel Fried participated in a discussion with Hagar Chemali, Senior Fellow and host of Oh My World, about the state of sanctions from the US & EU toward Belarus in light of the migrant crisis on Poland’s border

Economic Sanctions
European Union

EconoGraphics

Nov 2, 2021

Goodbye for now, 232: Breaking down the G20 US-EU agreement on steel and aluminum

By Julia Friedlander, Clete R. Willems

During the G20 summit the US and EU announced an agreement over steel and aluminum tariffs. Julia Friedlander and Non-resident senior fellow Clete Williams react to its implications.

European Union
Eurozone

EconoGraphics

Oct 29, 2021

G20 Balance Sheet

By GeoEconomics team

Asset purchases by the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and the Bank of Japan, are driving most of the more than $17 trillion increase in the “G20 balance sheet”.

Inclusive Growth
International Financial Institutions

EconoGraphics

Oct 29, 2021

G20 risks becoming G7 + G13

By Mrugank Bhusari, Niels Graham

This year’s Summit priorities of people, planet, and prosperity seem to have forgotten another P — pandemic — that most of the world is still dealing with.

Economy & Business
G20

EconoGraphics

Oct 22, 2021

Global Sanctions Dashboard: Halloween edition

By Julia Friedlander, Michael Albanese and Castellum.AI

US’s evolving approach to cryptocurrencies, Pandora Papers; sanctions against Iran, Myanmar, and Russian authorities in Crimea.

Belarus
China

EconoGraphics

Sep 17, 2021

Global Sanctions Dashboard: Summer edition

By Julia Friedlander, Michael Albanese and Castellum.AI

Current state of sanctions against the Taliban, China’s use of its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, and combating corruption through sanctions.

Afghanistan
Belarus

EconoGraphics

Sep 7, 2021

ASEAN’s COVID spike

By Niels Graham

Since April, Asia has experienced a wave of COVID suppressing growth throughout the region. The key question to watch is: will supply chain contagion once again follow the virus west?

East Asia
Macroeconomics

EconoGraphics

Aug 23, 2021

IMF delivers fiscal firepower

By Niels Graham and William Howlett

On August 23 the IMF released a historic $650 billion allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)

Inclusive Growth
International Financial Institutions

EconoGraphics

Jun 29, 2021

Global Sanctions Dashboard: 5th edition

By Julia Friedlander, Michael Albanese and Castellum.AI

China’s anti-foreign sanctions bill, mapping Belarusian KGB sanctions, and building an anti-kleptocracy playbook.

Belarus
China
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Content

EconoGraphics

Feb 6, 2018

Secondary Sanctions: A First Glance

By Ole Moehr

This edition of our EconoGraphic blog explains the difference between primary and secondary sanctions, outlines how secondary sanctions work, and uses a case study to demonstrate how the United States employs secondary sanctions in the real economy.

China
Economic Sanctions

EconoGraphics

Jan 22, 2018

The Irish Border Question

By Ole Moehr

The future of the Irish border is one of the key sticking points in the ongoing Brexit negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK).

Economy & Business
European Union

EconoGraphics

Dec 22, 2017

Parties Supporting Independence Win Slim Majority, But Catalonia’s Complex Stalemate Continues

By Michael Farquharson & Alvaro Morales Salto-Weis

The outcome of yesterday’s regional elections in Catalonia reflects the electorate’s deep polarization on the issue of regional independence.

Economy & Business
Southern & Southeastern Europe

EconoGraphics

Dec 12, 2017

Catalonia: Secession Recession?

By Michael Farquharson & Alvaro Morales Salto-Weis

The region of Catalonia will hold critical elections on December 21. The stakes are high: the region unilaterally declared its independence on October 1 and subsequently saw the rule of its regional government suspended by Madrid’s central government pursuant to Article 155 of the Spanish constitution.

Economy & Business
Southern & Southeastern Europe

EconoGraphics

Nov 27, 2017

Tariff on the Rising Sun

By Michael Farquharson & Ole Moehr

In April of this year, Suniva, a Chinese-owned, US-based solar manufacturer filed a rarely-used Section 201 petition with the US International Trade Commission (ITC), requesting the imposition of minimum prices for solar module imports into the United States. In May, German-based SolarWorld joined Suniva’s petition, and in September, the ITC ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ultimately recommending up to a 35 percent tariff on imported solar modules.

Economy & Business
Renewables & Advanced Energy

EconoGraphics

Nov 7, 2017

Multilateral Sanctions: Brexit Wrecks-it?

By Michael Farquharson & Ole Moehr

On October 3, 2017, the Atlantic Council hosted a conference with experts from the public and private sector to discuss the impact of Brexit on economic sanctions policymaking. The United Kingdom (UK) currently plays a considerable role crafting and implementing sanctions policy in the European Union (EU). Transatlantic cooperation and sanctions alignment are vital to ensure the effectiveness of this essential foreign policy tool.

Economic Sanctions
Economy & Business

EconoGraphics

Oct 20, 2017

The US Infrastruct-cure

By Michael Farquharson & Ole Moehr

Infrastructure investment stimulates economic growth. According to McKinsey & Company, an increase in infrastructure investment equal to 1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) would convert into an additional 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs in the United States. America’s infrastructure is in a state of disrepair.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia

EconoGraphics

Sep 25, 2017

Crude Awakening

By Ole Moehr

On August 2, 2017, US President Donald J. Trump signed into law H.R.3364, a new set of economic sanctions aimed primarily on Russia (with additional measures adopted against Iran and North Korea). Essential to the success of any sanctions regime is its alignment.

Economic Sanctions
Economy & Business

EconoGraphics

Jul 25, 2017

The Apprentice

By Samuel Weitzman

On June 15, 2017, US President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 13801, which sought “to promote affordable education and rewarding jobs for American workers” by increasing the number of apprenticeship opportunities. Trump’s stated goals are ambitious. With a proposed ApprenticeshipUSA budget of $200 million (roughly double the previous amount), the president wants to increase the number of US apprenticeships from 505,000 in 2016 to 5 million by 2022.

Economy & Business
United States and Canada

EconoGraphics

Jul 6, 2017

The Big Chill(ing effect)

By Samuel Weitzman

In March 2014, the United States and the European Union (EU) issued the first in a series of sanctions against the Russian Federation for its destabilization of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. These restrictions, which initially focused on senior Russian government officials and private individuals, have expanded to include large corporations, financial institutions, and even entire economic sectors. In retaliation, Russia has adopted counter-sanctions of its own.

Economic Sanctions
Economy & Business
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