Sharper: Tariffs

The incoming Trump administration has signaled that tariffs will be a central pillar of its economic strategy, with significant implications for international trade, the American economy, and U.S. foreign policy. Tariffs can bolster U.S. national and economic security by protecting critical industries but may undermine these goals, straining relations with key partners and disrupting global supply chains. CNAS experts are sharpening the conversation on the national security implications of tariffs. Continue reading this edition of Sharper to learn more.

Features

Taking Trump’s Tariffs Threats Seriously

In the hectic world of economic security news, Emily Kilcrease and Geoffrey Gertz break down the ill fated Nippon Steel / U.S. Steel deal, new chips export controls, and TikTik’s bad day in court. Plus, introducing ‘Tariff Tarot,’ a segment to help you make sense of all the tariff proposals and threats from the incoming administration, and an explainer on whether the President has the power to impose all the tariffs he’s talking about (spoiler: yup, sure does).

Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves

The Commerce Department plays a vital role in the nation's economic health, with the department increasingly involved in critical national security decisions. On December 16 at 2:00 p.m. CNAS will host a fireside chat with Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves who will take stock of the Department’s work on tariffs, export controls, critical technologies, and more. He will be in conversation with Emily Kilcrease, senior fellow and director of the CNAS Energy, Economics & Security Program.

No Winners in This Game: Assessing the U.S. Playbook for Sanctioning China

The relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is marked by both geopolitical tensions and deep economic linkages. While policymakers may have once believed that economic integration would inject stability into the overall relationship and provide a deterrent to conflict, that idealistic vision has been shaken by Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. No longer can the United States and its partners assume that the PRC’s economic interest in retaining ties to the global economy will override its nationalist impulses.

In the News

Commentary and analysis from Emily Kilcrease, Adam Tong, and Rachel Ziemba

About the Sharper Series

The CNAS Sharper series features curated analysis and commentary from CNAS experts on the most critical challenges in U.S. foreign policy. From the future of America's relationship with China to the state of U.S. sanctions policy and more, each collection draws on the reports, interviews, and other commentaries produced by experts across the Center to explore how America can strengthen its competitive edge.