Our Insights
Featured Posts Selected by Our Experts
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China Economic Stimulus Tracker
The China Economic Stimulus Tracker provides a comprehensive timeline of announcements and policy actions implemented by the Chinese government to stimulate economic activity.
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Trade is No Longer a Way of Opening Up Markets
With Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
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Making Acquisitions in the Public Affairs Sector: Lessons from Both Sides of the Table
By Leigh Wedell, President and COO
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From the Middle Kingdom to the Saudi Kingdom: Opportunities Abound
By Yasser Elnaggar, Chair of the Middle East and Africa
Explore all of our Insights, Interviews, Commentary, and More
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Expert Take | What Trump 2.0 Means for Trade Policy and the Americas
Trump 2.0’s international trade policy is already intertwining economic, technological, and national security priorities. He wasted no time in reshaping U.S. trade and national security policy on his first day in office with several executive orders asserting his “America First” policy and laying the groundwork for more tariffs.
Expert Take | What Trump 2.0 Means for the Middle East and Africa
Donald Trump’s second term may differ from his first in terms of domestic and global priorities, but for the Middle East, expectations of meaningful change in U.S. policy remain low. A return to the “maximum pressure” strategy on Iran is anticipated, targeting the country’s regional influence through stringent sanctions designed to cripple its economy. During his first term, these sanctions significantly reduced Iran’s oil exports and drove inflation higher, but they failed to achieve regime change or a new nuclear deal. Many analysts predict similar outcomes this time around.
Talking Points | Foundations for the Future: Saudi Arabia’s Infrastructure Leap
Saudi Arabia is accelerating its infrastructure transformation with an ambitious vision for the future. In 2024, the Kingdom allocated $17.3 billion to infrastructure development, with spending projected to rise to $21.3 billion by 2025. Central to this transformation are monumental projects that aim to redefine urban development, transportation, and sustainability.
Talking Points | What Lifting Sanctions Could Mean for Syria’s Recovery
Syria’s prewar economy was a regional hub for trade, energy, and agriculture which accounted for 25% of the GDP which exceeded $60 billion in 2010. Historically, the country’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Arab world made it a center for merchant trade, particularly through its bustling markets in Aleppo and Damascus. Textiles, food products, and pharmaceuticals were key exports, while trade routes facilitated the flow of goods across the Middle East.
Talking Points | Protecting Heritage through Partnership: Why U.S. Antiquities CPAs are Essential for At-Risk Nations
In a world where cultural artifacts can be plundered from archaeological sites, whisked away across borders, and then laundered onto the black market within just days or even hours, nations need robust, collaborative strategies to fight back. The United States has taken a step toward addressing this problem by signing cultural property agreements (CPAs) with countries threatened by the illicit antiquities trade.
Talking Points | Syria’s New Cabinet: A Free-Market Vision Amid Uncertainty
Syria’s interim government, formed after the collapse of the Assad regime, has announced plans to transition to a free-market economy. Led by Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir and backed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the administration is dismantling decades of state-controlled trade practices.
The Power of the Creative Economy: A Pathway to Growth and Global Influence
As the global economy evolves and industries become increasingly knowledge-driven, nations are looking toward new sources of growth beyond traditional sectors. One of the most promising and fastest growing of these is the creative economy—a diverse sector encompassing arts, media, design, fashion, technology, and cultural industries. According to UNESCO, the creative and cultural sectors contribute $4.3 trillion to global GDP, and generate 50 million jobs worldwide, almost half of which are held by women. These industries are expected to account for 10% of global GDP by 2030.
Talking Points | The Overnight Collapse of the Assad Regime: A New Era for Syria and the Middle East
The unexpected and rapid collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has reshaped the Middle East overnight. Rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), advanced from their stronghold in Idlib, capturing Aleppo, Hama, and Homs before isolating Damascus. Within 12 days, Syria’s capital fell, signaling the end of over five decades of Assad family rule. Bashar al-Assad, who had been in power since 2000, reportedly fled Damascus early Sunday, leaving a power vacuum that is both historic and precarious.
China Economic Stimulus Tracker
China is currently confronting economic challenges that have tempered its rapid growth, including substantial local government debt, a struggling real estate sector, and subdued domestic consumption. In response, the Chinese government initiated a series of stimulus measures in September 2024 to rejuvenate growth and bolster confidence in the economy.
Talking Points | From Free Trade Beneficiary to Leader: China Extends Zero Tariffs to the World’s Poorest Nations
At the G20 meetings in Brazil, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that China stands with the least-developed countries (LDCs) and announced it would grant zero-tariff treatment to 100% of tariff lines for all LDCs with diplomatic ties to China, effective December 1, 2024. China is trying to position itself as a leader of free trade globally, in contrast to the United States and the incoming Trump administration’s proposal to significantly raise tariffs on most imports to the U.S., including up to 60% on all Chinese goods.