Economy & Business

Programs

At the intersection of economics, finance, and foreign policy, the GeoEconomics Center is a translation hub with the goal of helping shape a better global economic future.

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Featured Analysis

Lichfield interviewed on BBC’s The World Tonight on the already-evident impact of sanctions on Russia’s economy

Econographics Jun 6, 2025

The search for safe assets

By Hung Tran

The deterioration of the US fiscal outlook has put international investors, especially foreign central banks, in a quandary. There is no good alternative to US Treasuries as safe reserve assets.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Econographics May 29, 2025

After partial relief, what’s next for Syria sanctions?

By Alex Zerden

Syria remains a high-risk jurisdiction due to years of conflict, endemic corruption, state institution collapse, narcotrafficking of captagon, insufficient anti-money laundering efforts, and inadequate financing of terrorism controls.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Sinographs Jun 2, 2025

Hong Kong highlights China’s policy of decoupling from US financial markets

By Jeremy Mark

The political benefits of an international financial center with Chinese characteristics will outweigh the pain that decoupling inflicts on China’s private sector.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist May 27, 2025

What’s the Trump administration’s dollar strategy? It depends on who you ask.

By Alisha Chhangani

Within the White House, there appear to be competing and fractured views of the dollar’s role. This dissonance could result in harm to the currency’s long-term dominance.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Issue Brief Jun 6, 2025

How Japanese economic statecraft has shifted from promotion to protection

By Charles Lichfield

Japan is in a geopolitically challenging neighborhood and is witnessing the basic tenets of its foreign policy—from alignment with the United States to fostering a rules-based environment—come under unprecedented stress.

East Asia Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist Jun 6, 2025

Even as courts step in, Trump still has plenty of tariff options. US trading partners should intensify negotiations.

By Brian Janovitz

Section 301 may entail more work for the White House, but it could provide a relatively straightforward pathway to broad-based tariffs.

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy

In-Depth Research

In the News Nov 15, 2024

Avoiding Entanglement: G20 Responses in a Taiwan Crisis report cited by the Wall Street Journal on how China would respond to trade restrictions from the West

Read the full article here

Brazil China

Report Oct 22, 2024

The economic and social costs of the war in Gaza

By Perrihan Al-Riffai

After a year of war, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and neighboring countries need a permanent ceasefire. But with development gains erased, billions of dollars in infrastructure damaged, and skyrocketing unemployment, the Middle East also urgently needs a solid reconstruction plan.

Conflict Israel

Report Oct 9, 2024

End of the line: The cost of faltering reforms

By Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center and Rhodium Group

The China Pathfinder project examines whether China’s economy is converging or diverging with the world’s leading open market economies.

China Digital Policy

Issue Brief Sep 20, 2024

Toward a financial inclusion agenda for the global majority

By Nicole Goldin

Policymakers, investors, and innovators must advance a new financial inclusion agenda designed for the global majority.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

Report Sep 9, 2024

Sharing the post carbon economy means building a resilient EV supply chain

By Sarah Bauerle Danzman

In this report Sarah Bauerle Danzman advances the policy discussion by compiling trade, investment, and EV industrial policy data across the G20, and offers six recommendations to the G20 to build a resilient EV supply chain.

Brazil China

Report Jun 7, 2024

Reconstructing Ukraine at war: The journey to prosperity starts now

By John E. Herbst, Olga Khakova, Charles Lichfield

Rebuilding the Ukrainian economy after Russia’s full-scale invasion will be a monumental task. Reconstruction can’t wait for peace and must be a well-coordinated, inclusive process.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Read the latest from the GeoEconomics Center

New Atlanticist

Jul 8, 2025

April, July, now August: Our expert guide to Trump’s latest tariff moves

By Atlantic Council experts

“Liberation Day” was nearly ninety days ago, and now the deadline for many nations to negotiate a trade deal and avoid US tariffs is extended to next month. Atlantic Council experts explain what’s behind the moving calendar.

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy

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

Econographics

Jul 7, 2025

Building BRICS

By Bart Piasecki

Fifteen years after its founding, BRICS has evolved into a formidable counterweight to Western dominance in global economic governance. Yet despite its growing influence, the bloc’s ability to translate bold rhetoric into concrete results remains uncertain.

Brazil China

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

Belarusian soldiers from the Unit 103rd Vitebsk Guard Aircraft Brigade conduct joint combat exercises with police units in the Gomel region of Belarus, Feb 16, 2022. (Source: Eyepress via Reuters Connect)

New Atlanticist

Jun 3, 2022

Russian War Report: Signs of renewed Belarusian troop movements towards Ukrainian border

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarusian troops seem to be on the move again toward their border with Ukraine while the Kremlin spreads claims of killed NATO officers and blames the West for global food shortages.

Belarus Disinformation

Event Recap

Jun 2, 2022

Event recap: “An interview with H.E. the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dr. Lotay Tshering”

By Atlantic Council

On May 23, 2022, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center welcomed His Excellency the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dr. Lotay Tshering, for a conversation on Bhutan’s economic, environmental, and foreign policy strategies. The interview was conducted by Dr. Irfan Nooruddin, Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center, and Dr. Rudabeh Shahid, non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

In the News

Jun 2, 2022

Grieco in The National Interest: Trying harder is a bad China strategy

By Atlantic Council

On June 2, Kelly Grieco published an op-ed in The National Interest, calling out US policymakers for substituting the vague concept of competition for a strategy with defined means and ends. “Above all, competition itself is not a strategy. It offers only a description of the strategic environment. And it is hardly a novel one. […]

Member, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Advisory Council

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Economy & Business Latin America

Events

Public Event Thu, July 10, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on the future of US-Africa trade and security

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT with President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau.

North & West Africa Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense Trade and tariffs

Online Event Fri, July 11, 2025 • 10:30 am ET

What comes next for transatlantic trade

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union Trade and tariffs

Flagship Event Tue, September 30, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

2025 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual conference convening economic and financial leaders from both sides of the Atlantic.

Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union

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Programs

Featured Analysis

The search for safe assets

After partial relief, what’s next for Syria sanctions?

Hong Kong highlights China’s policy of decoupling from US financial markets

What’s the Trump administration’s dollar strategy? It depends on who you ask.

How Japanese economic statecraft has shifted from promotion to protection

Even as courts step in, Trump still has plenty of tariff options. US trading partners should intensify negotiations.

In-Depth Research

Avoiding Entanglement: G20 Responses in a Taiwan Crisis report cited by the Wall Street Journal on how China would respond to trade restrictions from the West

The economic and social costs of the war in Gaza

End of the line: The cost of faltering reforms

Toward a financial inclusion agenda for the global majority

Sharing the post carbon economy means building a resilient EV supply chain

Reconstructing Ukraine at war: The journey to prosperity starts now

Read the latest from the GeoEconomics Center

April, July, now August: Our expert guide to Trump’s latest tariff moves

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

Building BRICS

Content

Lichfield interviewed on BBC’s The World Tonight on the already-evident impact of sanctions on Russia’s economy

O’Toole interviewed in Business Insider on Russian oligarch’s sources of wealth

CBDC Tracker cited in Politico’s Digital Future Daily newsletter

Global Sanctions Dashboard cited in Politico’s Global Insider newsletter

Graham quoted in Voice of America on the potential for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework to improve trade facilitation

Mark cited in Axios on China’s lack of involvement in debt restructuring negotiations

Lipsky quoted and CBDC Tracker cited in Axios on the Fed’s new “bullish” approach to a CBDC

Russian War Report: Signs of renewed Belarusian troop movements towards Ukrainian border

Event recap: “An interview with H.E. the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dr. Lotay Tshering”

Grieco in The National Interest: Trying harder is a bad China strategy

Experts

Isabel Chiriboga

Victoria Chonn-Ching

Julie Chon

Claire Chu

Ariel Cohen

Luís Pérez Companc

Events

President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on the future of US-Africa trade and security

What comes next for transatlantic trade

2025 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

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