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Econographics

May 28, 2026

As China’s surpluses become unbearable, the EU is edging toward its own Section 301

By Charles Lichfield, L. Daniel Mullaney, Jessie Yin

With Chinese industrial surpluses flooding global markets, the EU is quietly debating whether it should borrow from the US tariff toolkit—marking a potential shift toward a more assertive approach to Beijing.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Econographics

May 27, 2026

Don’t call it a G7 comeback

By Bart Piasecki

The G7’s equity rebound may look broad-based. In reality, it’s largely a tale of US tech dominance, driven by the “Magnificent Seven” and an extraordinary concentration of global market power.

Economy & Business

Econographics

May 20, 2026

The global push for local-currency cross-border payments is intensifying

By Hung Tran

More than one hundred countries now operate instant payment systems, and growing efforts to link them are reshaping how cross-border transactions get settled in local currencies.

Digital Currencies Dollar Dominance

Econographics

May 12, 2026

The IMF’s policy advice needs a louder voice

By Martin Mühleisen

At a time of energy shocks and trade tensions, the IMF’s surveillance work is more relevant than ever. Yet its challenge remains influence: can the Fund move from rigorous analysis to public-facing policy advice?

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions

Econographics

May 7, 2026

As the Trump-Xi summit draws closer, trade uncertainty still looms large

By Jessie Yin

What China and the United States manage to agree on in Beijing on key export controls or purchase agreements will significantly shape the Trump administration’s approach to rebuilding its tariff wall.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Apr 29, 2026

What swap, Gulf?

By Charles Lichfield and Maxamillian Rajaobelina-Phipps

Amidst the chaos of the conflict in the Middle East, there’s been a buzz around offering dollar currency swaps to allies. Those have traditionally been the territory of central banks, but this time around, Treasury is taking the lead.

Economy & Business

Econographics

Apr 22, 2026

In renegotiating the USMCA, Mexico should neither rush nor stall

By Phil Lovegren, Ernesto Stein

With the USMCA under review, Mexico faces a delicate balance: rushing risks economic harm, but delay brings uncertainty—making patience a viable fallback strategy.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Econographics

Apr 14, 2026

The debt comes due—but there is no one to pick up the tab

By Bart Piasecki

Many of the IMF’s latest warnings center on the fallout of the Iran war. But another key message has focused on debt: because the world has neglected fiscal consolidation for more than two decades, the time to reverse course is now.

Economy & Business Macroeconomics

Econographics

Apr 2, 2026

No IMF and World Bank spring meetings without a global crisis

By Hung Tran

The Iran war's supply-side shock is testing the IMF and World Bank ahead of their 2026 spring meetings. While financial support is in the works, it’s unclear what policy recommendations they can offer member states to manage the fallout.

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions

Econographics

Mar 27, 2026

The Iran war’s economic fallout won’t stop at oil—agriculture and aluminum are next

By Eduardo Gomez Horta and Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

The Iran war’s impact isn’t limited to oil. Fertilizer shortages now threaten spring corn planting, while aluminum markets are strained—signaling broader disruptions to food prices, industry, and global supply chains.

Economy & Business