Economy & Business

The US must lead with allies or risk becoming a bystander in a reshaped international financial system. As the global economy struggles to recover from COVID-19 and rising powers like China assert economic influence, this mission is critical to the long-term prosperity of the United States and its allies. Strong collaboration between the public and private sectors can help revitalize open markets for the twenty-first century.

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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

China as producer: Chinese industry after 25 years of reform

New Atlanticist Aug 11, 2025

The US-EU trade agreement is not set in stone. This presents pitfalls and opportunities.

By Charles Lichfield

The trade and tariff deal recently struck in Scotland has several important elements that are yet to be determined.
Economy & Business European Union
China as producer: Chinese industry after 25 years of reform

New Atlanticist Aug 4, 2025

Trump’s review of US membership in the IMF offers a rare chance for reform

By Martin Mühleisen

The institution needs its major shareholders aligned to tackle new challenges, and it deserves a management team qualified to lead it on this new path.
Economy & Business International Financial Institutions
China as producer: Chinese industry after 25 years of reform

New Atlanticist Aug 1, 2025

How Donald Trump remade global trade

By Josh Lipsky

The US president has smashed the system, but the speed and scale of the smashing owes to a system that had been growing increasingly brittle for years. 
Economy & Business Macroeconomics
China as producer: Chinese industry after 25 years of reform

Econographics Jul 31, 2025

Beijing extends and pretends to deal with its mountain of local government debt

By Jeremy Mark

Beijing’s three-year local debt restructuring plan fails to actually address the trillions of dollars weighing on local governments and will only cause greater problems down the road.
China Economy & Business
China as producer: Chinese industry after 25 years of reform

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 Macroeconomics
China as producer: Chinese industry after 25 years of reform

New Atlanticist Jul 17, 2025

What Ancient Greece can teach the United States about defending against cyber attacks

By Carole House

Applying lessons from the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC to present-day cyber warfare is surprisingly instructive.
Cybersecurity Iran

In-Depth Research

China as producer: Chinese industry after 25 years of reform

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 Economy & Business
China as producer: Chinese industry after 25 years of reform

Issue Brief Apr 28, 2025

Modernizing the tools of economic statecraft to meet the challenges of today

By Lesley Chavkin, Eitan Danon, Kimberly Donovan, Andrew Gallucci, and Caroline Hill

As the current administration revisits the functions and mechanics of government, near-term steps can be taken, under existing statutory authorities, to modernize how the United States uses its economic strength to combat national security threats and promote American interests.
Economy & Business Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade
China as producer: Chinese industry after 25 years of reform

Issue Brief Mar 3, 2025

Financing the future: Unlocking private capital for global infrastructure and climate goals

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou, Nisha Narayanan, Hung Tran

MDBs and international financial institutions alone cannot bridge the climate and development financing gaps.
Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Read the latest from the GeoEconomics Center

Event Recap

Mar 6, 2026

Inside Trump’s long-term economic strategy, with EXIM Bank’s John Jovanovic

By Katherine Golden

At an Atlantic Council Front Page event, Jovanovic talked about the supply chains he is working to reshape, from critical minerals to energy.

Trade and tariffs United States and Canada

Econographics

Mar 5, 2026

The renminbi is winning over Africa—but can it rival the dollar?

By Lize de Kruijf

In recent years, African governments have taken steps to reduce reliance on the dollar, but progress on their regional payment system has been slow—and in the meantime, China’s renminbi is quietly making inroads across Africa’s trade and finance networks.

Africa China

Econographics

Feb 25, 2026

The US and Mexico need stronger financial cooperation to disrupt illicit financial flows

By Phil Lovegren

Killing cartel leaders grabs headlines, but lasting progress in curbing the illicit drug trade requires following the money. If the United States and Mexico truly want to tackle organized crime, they must deepen cooperation to disrupt the financial flows that sustain it.

Economy & Business Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade
Read More from the GeoEconomics center

Content

Issue Brief

Dec 1, 2005

China as producer: Chinese industry after 25 years of reform

By Thomas Rawski

Beginning with the start of reform in the late 1970s, China’s industry has recorded impressive growth of output, labor productivity, and exports as well as dramatic upgrading of the quality and variety of output. These gains have occurred in spite of difficulties arising from lethargic state enterprises, inadequate corporate governance, excessive official intervention, corruption, and […]

China Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Dec 1, 2005

Hu Jintao’s outbox

By Joseph Fewsmith

This paper addresses the challenges facing China’s surging economy.  As the country’s economy grows and becomes more open to the world market, it is also emerging as a greater force in the world economy. Furthermore, the party/state has (so far) been remarkably effective in adapting both to the governmental challenges of providing more regularized and […]

China Economy & Business

Report

Nov 1, 2004

The Transatlantic Economy in 2020: A Partnership for the Future?

The United States and the European Union maintain the world’s largest and most significant economic relationship, which in turn is a foundation supporting the transatlantic political partnership. By some estimates, the transatlantic economy — including two-way trade and foreign affiliate sales — totals $2.5 trillion and is responsible for 14 million jobs in the United […]

Economy & Business European Union

Report

Feb 1, 2004

Do Economic Sanctions Work?: Lessons from ILSA and Other US Sanctions Regimes

By Stuart E. Eizenstat

Economic sanctions have been a frequently used tool of U.S. foreign policy in recent years. One of the most controversial applications of sanctions has been through the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA), which was originally passed into law in 1996 and renewed in 2001. Events since the Act’s passage have, however, raised questions about the effectiveness […]

Economy & Business Iran

Report

Apr 1, 2001

Changing Terms of Trade: Managing the New Transatlantic Economy

The economic relationship between the United States and the European Union (EU) is in the midst of a significant transition. In the past, the dominant element of that relationship was trade. But in recent years, several new elements have become more prominent in the transatlantic economic relationship, bringing with them both challenges and opportunities. Download […]

Economy & Business European Union

Experts

Fellow

Rza Aliyev

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Azerbaijani Central Asia

Fellow

Hanaa Almoaibed

Nonresident senior fellow

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

Arabic Economy & Business

Fellow

Wa’el Alzayat

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Fellow

Shahira Amin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Alen Amini

Management Consultant, Boston Consulting Group

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Technology & Innovation

Fellow

Mark Boris Andrijanič

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Economy & Business
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Events

Public Event Thu, March 12, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Resilience in Security and Economics Dialogue
Central Europe Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy
Public Event Fri, March 13, 2026 • 10:30 am ET

Ukraine’s human capital and the foundations of recovery and long-term security
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Resilience & Society Russia
Flagship Event Fri, December 11, 2026 • 8:30 am ET

2026 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual flagship convening focused on issues at the nexus of economics, finance, foreign policy, and national security.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union