Trade | Council on Foreign Relations

Biden’s Indo-Pacific Trade Play

One year after the Joe Biden administration unveiled its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, the agreement still doesn’t look like a traditional trade deal and could end up falling short of its ambitions.

Article by Inu Manak Nov 8, 2023

Mathias Döpfner on Global Trade

In this CFR event, Mathias Döpfner examines trade, political polarization, the role of media in foreign policy.

Event with Mathias Döpfner Sep 18, 2023

A Turning Point for Global Trade

As the United States and other countries invest in industrial policy, Why It Matters takes a look at the changing landscape of global trade.

Podcast by Gabrielle Sierra, Asher Ross, Markus Zakaria, Molly McAnany, Jennifer Hillman, Inu Manak, and Edward Alden Nov 8, 2023

China

A Second China Shock, With Brad Setser

Brad Setser, the Whitney Shepardson senior fellow at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the causes and consequences of China’s export surge.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Brad W. Setser April 30, 2024 The President’s Inbox
Renewable Energy

Energy and Trade Priorities With Governor J. Kevin Stitt

Kevin Stitt, twenty-eighth governor of Oklahoma, discusses his international priorities, including Oklahoma’s growing role in the renewable energy landscape, ensuring access to a sustainable supply of critical minerals, and deepening trade relations. This meeting is part of CFR’s State and Local Officials Initiative which offers resources on pressing international issues that affect the priorities and agendas of state and local government officials. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this hybrid meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Virtual Event by J. Kevin Stitt, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera and Michael Froman April 25, 2024
Cuba

U.S.-Cuba Relations

Cuba has long been a major foreign policy challenge for the United States. President Biden is the latest U.S. leader to grapple with how to balance democracy promotion with the desire for a better bilateral relationship.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors April 24, 2024

United States

The U.S.-ASEAN Relationship: A Conversation With U.S. Ambassadors

Panelists discuss the strategic opportunities and challenges of the U.S.-ASEAN partnership in addressing pressing regional and global issues, including trade, maritime security, human rights, climate, and technology.

Virtual Event by Edgard D. Kagan, Marc E. Knapper, Ted Osius, Heather Variava and Calvin Sims April 23, 2024
European Union

Trends in International Trade: A Conversation With Valdis Dombrovskis

The European Commission’s Executive Vice President and Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, discusses the trends and shocks affecting international trade, the value-added of multilateralism, and how economic security is enhanced by trade openness between the European Union and United States. The C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics brings the world's foremost economic policymakers and scholars to address members on current topics in international economics and U.S. monetary policy. This meeting series is presented by the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies.

Virtual Event by Valdis Dombrovskis and Miriam Sapiro April 18, 2024 C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics
RealEcon

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Global Trade Leadership

Under Biden and Trump, the U.S. has broken from its long-standing free trade policy. CFR trade experts assess whether the rules-based trading system is worth saving.

Article by Inu Manak , Edward Alden and Jennifer Hillman April 15, 2024 RealEcon

Trade

Series on Emerging Technology, U.S. Foreign Policy, and World Order: A Conversation With Patrick P. Gelsinger of Intel

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger discusses developments in the tech industry, implications of geopolitical conflicts on global trade, and leadership lessons learned.

Virtual Event by Patrick P. Gelsinger, Jon Fortt, Blair W. Effron and Michael Froman April 4, 2024 Series on Emerging Technology, U.S. Foreign Policy, and World Order
Economics

Local Leaders in the Global Economy

Many Americans are losing faith in the benefits of internationalism. But whether it’s wars in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine, worsening extreme weather as a result of climate change, or the trade-offs of globalization, events abroad are increasingly having a local impact. At the same time, more state and local officials in the United States are becoming involved in global affairs, conducting their own form of diplomacy on international issues and driving investment home. What role should the United States play in the world economy? And how do states and cities fit in?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra , Matthew P. Goodman and Nina Hachigian April 2, 2024 Why It Matters
RealEcon

Policymaking Is All About Trade-Offs

In crafting a new international economic policy that works for Americans and advances U.S. interests, policymakers will have to weigh multiple trade-offs.

Article by Matthew P. Goodman April 1, 2024 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies
Trade

U.S. Trade Policy Is at a Crossroads

Biden’s trade agenda is trying to tackle climate change, domestic jobs, and great power competition, but trade-offs are inevitable. A clear vision on priorities is essential.

Article by Edward Alden April 1, 2024 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies
Trade

WTO Members Kick the Can Down the Road, Again

The World Trade Organization's (WTO) thirteenth ministerial conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates failed to break the deadlock on old and new initiatives in areas such as agricultural trade, fisheries subsidies, and investment facilitation. Given rising great power tensions and growing protectionism, efforts led by coalitions of the willing could be the future of world trade.

Article by Inu Manak April 1, 2024 RealEcon
China

China’s Record Manufacturing Surplus

The U.S. likes talking about the dominance of the dollar. But don’t short-change China’s current dominance of manufacturing trade. Trade imbalances need to be taken seriously again.

Blog Post by Brad W. Setser , Michael Weilandt and Volkmar Baur March 10, 2024 Follow the Money
Trade

World Economic Update

The World Economic Update highlights the quarter’s most important and emerging trends. Discussions cover changes in the global marketplace with special emphasis on current economic events and their implications for U.S. policy. This series is presented by the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies and is dedicated to the life and work of the distinguished economist Martin Feldstein.

Event with Jan Hatzius, Karen Karniol-Tambour, Jens Nordvig and Sebastian Mallaby February 28, 2024 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies
United States

Why U.S. Imports From Mexico Surpassed Those From China

New U.S. Census Bureau data shows the United States importing more goods from Mexico than from China. Will the shift change the global trading landscape?

In Brief by Brad W. Setser February 20, 2024 Renewing America
Trade

C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics with Katherine Tai

Ambassador Katherine Tai discusses the role of trade policy in the global economy, current U.S. trade strategy, and priorities for the WTO Ministerial Conference. The C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics brings the world’s foremost economic policymakers and scholars to address members on current topics in international economics and U.S. monetary policy. This meeting series is presented by the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies.

Virtual Event by Katherine Tai and Michael Froman February 12, 2024 Renewing America