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

Willems submitted a testimony for House Ways and Means Committee hearing on supporting US workers, businesses, and the environment in face of unfair Chinese trade practices

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
Willems submitted a testimony for House Ways and Means Committee hearing on supporting US workers, businesses, and the environment in face of unfair Chinese trade practices

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
Willems submitted a testimony for House Ways and Means Committee hearing on supporting US workers, businesses, and the environment in face of unfair Chinese trade practices

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
Willems submitted a testimony for House Ways and Means Committee hearing on supporting US workers, businesses, and the environment in face of unfair Chinese trade practices

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
Willems submitted a testimony for House Ways and Means Committee hearing on supporting US workers, businesses, and the environment in face of unfair Chinese trade practices

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
Willems submitted a testimony for House Ways and Means Committee hearing on supporting US workers, businesses, and the environment in face of unfair Chinese trade practices

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
Willems submitted a testimony for House Ways and Means Committee hearing on supporting US workers, businesses, and the environment in face of unfair Chinese trade practices

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
Willems submitted a testimony for House Ways and Means Committee hearing on supporting US workers, businesses, and the environment in face of unfair Chinese trade practices

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
Willems submitted a testimony for House Ways and Means Committee hearing on supporting US workers, businesses, and the environment in face of unfair Chinese trade practices

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
Willems submitted a testimony for House Ways and Means Committee hearing on supporting US workers, businesses, and the environment in face of unfair Chinese trade practices

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
Willems submitted a testimony for House Ways and Means Committee hearing on supporting US workers, businesses, and the environment in face of unfair Chinese trade practices

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

Econographics

Jul 10, 2025

The stablecoin race

By Hung Tran, Barbara C. Matthews

Each country’s agenda is motivated by questions about the sustainability of the dollar’s dominant global role.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

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
Stablecoins

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
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Content

In the News

Dec 2, 2021

Willems submitted a testimony for House Ways and Means Committee hearing on supporting US workers, businesses, and the environment in face of unfair Chinese trade practices

By Clete R. Willems

Watch the full hearing here

Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business

Blog Post

Dec 2, 2021

The Great LIBOR Transition

By Hung Tran

Beginning in 2022, the London Interbank Offered Rates (LIBOR) will be replaced by national reference rates. While the changeover will address the problems that led to the demise of LIBOR, the national reference rates will also introduce new problems which will need to be assessed and resolved.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Dec 2, 2021

Lipsky interviewed on CNBC Asia about the impact of Omicron on the macroeconomy

By Josh Lipsky

Watch the full interview here.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Dec 2, 2021

Friedlander quoted in CNN on the significance of recent sanctions placed on Belarus.

By Julia Friedlander

Read the full article here.

Belarus Eastern Europe

In the News

Dec 2, 2021

Azodi quoted in Al Jazeera on US’ plan B if the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna fail

By Atlantic Council

Arabic Defense Policy

In the News

Dec 1, 2021

Tran’s piece on China’s debt reduction campaign was featured in a Formiche article

By Hung Tran

Read the full article here.

China Economy & Business

Press Release

Dec 1, 2021

Atlantic Council Launches Economic Statecraft Initiative

December 1, 2021 – Washington, DC – The Atlantic Council today is launching the Economic Statecraft Initiative, an innovative program that will put a spotlight on some of the most impactful and controversial tools of American power – sanctions, tariffs, export controls and more. The launch features senior Biden administration officials, industry executives, regulators and […]

Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Nov 30, 2021

Transforming Ukraine into an international manufacturing hub

By Sergiy Tsivkach

Ukraine is taking steps to build on the country's huge potential as a major international manufacturing hub and is now seeking to attract international investment that can drive further economic growth.

Economy & Business Education

Report

Nov 30, 2021

Economic statecraft: Finance and money

By Dr. Carla Norrlöf

Using economics to achieve non-economic foreign policy objectives has become a dominant strategy for great powers in the post 9/11 world. The economic statecraft kit now includes a wide range of practices such as financial sanctions, coercive policies and inducements to defensive policies.

Australia China

UkraineAlert

Nov 30, 2021

Is the new German government good news for Ukraine?

By Bohdan Nahaylo

The sun is finally setting on Germany’s Merkel era and a new coalition government is poised to take over. What will this change mean for Germany’s policies towards Russia, Ukraine and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline?

Conflict Economic Sanctions
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Experts

Fellow

Thomas Storch

Distinguished fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Energy Markets & Governance

Fellow

Leremy Colf

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Digital Policy Internet

Fellow

Reem Goussous

Nonresident senior fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

Americas Arabic

Fellow

Achilles Tsirgis

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business European Union

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Inês Bravo Figueiredo

Co-President, Volt Portugal

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Economy & Business

Staff

Bart Piasecki

Assistant Director

GeoEconomics Center

Fiscal and Structural Reform International Financial Institutions
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Events

Online Event Thu, July 17, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

Book talk: A portrait of ‘the man who would be king’
Economy & Business Energy & Environment Middle East Politics & Diplomacy
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