Trade & Tariffs

The global trading system is being reshaped. From the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic to trade wars, the traditional rules-based trading order is under more pressure than at any time in a century. Trade policy is now at the center of global economics and national security.

Spotlight

New Atlanticist

Dec 10, 2025

China’s overcapacity problem ‘doesn’t mean we can’t trade together,’ says US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer

By
Katherine Golden

Greer spoke at an Atlantic Council Front Page event, where he unpacked a year in which US President Donald Trump implemented an aggressive trade strategy that resulted in clashes with China.

China
European Union

US-China trade war: The issues ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting

Dispatches
Feb 24, 2026

Eight questions (and expert answers) on what’s next for US tariff policy 

By
Atlantic Council experts

Our experts explain what’s next for US tariff policy as the Trump administration imposes 10 percent global tariffs in response to Friday’s Supreme Court ruling.

Economy & Business
European Union

US-China trade war: The issues ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting

Fast Thinking
Feb 20, 2026

The Supreme Court just struck down most of Trump’s tariffs. What’s next?

By
Atlantic Council

The Supreme Court ruled that the US president does not have the power to unilaterally impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Rule of Law
Trade and tariffs

US-China trade war: The issues ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting

New Atlanticist
Nov 7, 2025

The Supreme Court might slow Trump’s strategy. But he still has other tariff options.

By
Sophia Busch

If the administration’s primary objective is to preserve tariff revenue and counter unfair practices, sections 301, 232, or 122 remain viable alternatives.

Economy & Business
Politics & Diplomacy


Trump Tariff Tracker

The second Trump administration has embarked on a novel and aggressive tariff policy to address a range of economic and national security concerns. This tracker monitors the evolution of these tariffs and provides expert context on the economic conditions driving their creation—along with their real-world impact.

Watch

Events

Online Event
Wed, March 12, 2025 • 3:00 pm ET

The role of the Panama Canal in global commerce

Americas
Economy & Business
Latin America
Trade and tariffs

Online Event
Wed, February 5, 2025 • 4:30 am ET

What’s to come for transatlantic economic relations

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia
European Union
Macroeconomics

Public Event
Tue, February 4, 2025 • 2:00 am ET

Canadian Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson on US-Canada energy cooperation

Energy & Environment
Geopolitics & Energy Security
Trade and tariffs
United States and Canada

Online Event
Mon, February 3, 2025 • 12:00 pm ET

Why Ecuador matters for the future of the Western Hemisphere’s security

Americas
Conflict
Elections
Latin America

Online Event
Thu, January 9, 2025 • 10:15 am ET

Trump, trade, and tariffs: The global economy in 2025

China
Economy & Business
Macroeconomics
Trade and tariffs

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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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The Europe Center promotes leadership, strategies, and analysis to ensure a strong, ambitious, and forward-looking transatlantic relationship.

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The Global Energy Center develops and promotes pragmatic and nonpartisan policy solutions designed to advance global energy security, enhance economic opportunity, and accelerate pathways to net-zero emissions.

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The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center broadens understanding of regional transformations and delivers constructive, results-oriented solutions to inform how the public and private sectors can advance hemispheric prosperity.

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Content

New Atlanticist

Jun 26, 2019

US-China trade war: The issues ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting

By Robert Hormats

Perhaps the best we can hope for would be agreement on a few items as a show of progress and good faith, and a commitment not to take further adverse actions against one another for a designated period of time while negotiations continue.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jun 25, 2019

How the US-China trade war could impact US-EU negotiations and the WTO

By Robert Hormats

The full scope and depth of the impact of a prolonged US-China trade war have yet to be fully understood. This is economic terra incognita.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jun 25, 2019

The global implications of an all-out trade war

By Robert Hormats

An all-out trade war between the United States and China will slow growth not only in these two countries, but also in countries that sell substantial amounts of goods in both markets—which means most countries in the world.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jun 24, 2019

US-China trade war: The dangers of disruption

By Robert Hormats

Both the United States and China are already imposing, or considering imposing, restrictions on imports from each other of advanced high-technology products. In the process, they would be aiming at making their economies and companies less dependent on the other’s supplies of such technologies.  

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jun 21, 2019

Whom do tariffs actually hurt?

By Robert Hormats

If these patterns remain the same in the future, and current US tariffs are raised, as planned,  from the current 10 percent to 25 percent on $200-billion worth of Chinese goods, that would be equivalent to a tax increase on Americans of $20 billion.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jun 20, 2019

The US-China trade wars

By Robert Hormats

At their core, the issues between the world’s two largest economies and military powers are about aspirations, drives, and policies for preeminence.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jun 20, 2019

Avoiding tariff escalation and making the transatlantic economy stronger

By Antonio de Lecea

US exports and jobs can increase if the United States and the EU eliminate current tariffs on industrial goods and reduce the compliance costs of exporting across the Atlantic.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Jun 18, 2019

Can Xi’s visit to North Korea facilitate US-China trade talks?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first state visit to North Korea this week will underscore Beijing’s clout in Pyongyang and, by doing so, Xi may be looking to re-energize a US effort to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and gain leverage in stalled US-China trade negotiations.

China Korea

New Atlanticist

Jun 14, 2019

What is wrong with the WTO?

By David A. Wemer

The World Trade Organization (WTO), the largest multilateral trade organization and the foundation of the global trading system, has increasingly drawn the ire of the United States and other countries that view the organization as outdated and complacent as other countries skirt the rules to get ahead.

Economy & Business International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 12, 2019

US senators warn against tariffs on Mexico

By David A. Wemer

The migrant flow from Central America to the United States is a serious problem that needs to be addressed, but cannot be solved through the use of tariffs, two US senators said at the Atlantic Council on June 12.

Central America Economy & Business
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Experts

Fellow

Didier Acouetey

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Marino Auffant

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Fellow

Beth Baltzan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs

Advisory Council member

Martha Bárcena

Former Ambassador of Mexico to the United States

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business

Fellow

Tyson Barker

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Fellow

Ridhika Batra

Nonresident Senior Fellow, India

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy
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Events

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