In today’s episode of The Call, Robert Kaplan, Vice Chairman at Goldman Sachs and former President of the Dallas Fed, lays out why the U.S. Federal Reserve is cornered by rising tariffs, sticky inflation, and mounting political pressure. As businesses brace for slower growth and the Fed takes a wait-and-see stance, Kaplan joins Jay Sapsford to expl…

With U.S. tariffs back in play, Canadian businesses are bracing for a long, politically charged road ahead. Candace Laing, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, joins Jay Sapsford to unpack rising trade tensions between two of the world’s closest allies—and what they mean for the $3.6 billion in business that happens across the U.S…

In today’s episode of The Call, Wendy Cutler, Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute and former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, warns businesses to brace for more uncertainty, re-risk and scrutinize supply chains. As the U.S. and China prepare for their first high-level talks since the tariff announcement, Cutler joins Jay Sapsford …

The U.S.-China relationship is at its most strained point in decades, with tariffs surging, trade collapsing, and trust evaporating. Jeremie Waterman, President of the China Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, warns that this moment didn’t begin with Trump or Biden—but with long-running structural forces on both sides. He joins Jay Sapsford on …

India is the world’s most populous country, its economy is growing at 7%—but is that enough? India could grow old before it grows rich, warns Raghuram Rajan, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and Professor at Chicago Booth School of Business. He joins Jay Sapsford on The Call to unpack the demographic boom, the myth of manufacturing, and…

“Each side has essentially put trade embargoes on the other,” warns Wall Street Journal Chief China Correspondent Lingling Wei. With Xi Jinping doubling down on strategic industries and bloc-building abroad, Wei argues today’s rift goes beyond tariffs—it’s about ideology and long-term power. She joins Jay Sapsford on The Call to break down the risk…

Global markets have entered a period of intense volatility after the U.S. announced a new round of tariffs last week, putting a floor of 10% on most goods entering the country and targeting specific nations for double digit duties. Some economists now say the chances of a recession – both at home and abroad – are growing. Mark Zandi, Chief Economis…

A blanket tariff of 10% on foreign imports was announced, with some exemptions, by the Trump administration, designed to respond to trade imbalances. Those follow a recent announcement of 25% tariffs on autos, effective this month, and earlier trade restrictions including levies on steel and aluminum. The changes mark a major inflection point in U.…

The USTR is proposing steep docking fees on Chinese-built ships to counter China’s rapid rise in shipbuilding; a sector the U.S. says benefits from unfair trade practices. The proposed fees—up to $1.5 million per port call—aim to curb reliance on Chinese shipbuilding and reignite domestic capacity. But opponents say the policy could backfire, harmi…

AI is everywhere. It is the most mentioned term in corporate earnings reports, a driving force behind market shifts, and, most importantly, the technology most shaping the future of warfare and global security. The U.S. now faces challenges to its AI dominance as rivals – notably China – scramble to develop advanced AI-driven military capabilities.…

NATO faces a moment of reckoning. Doubts about the U.S. commitment to the alliance are growing at a time when Russia’s attack on Ukraine challenges Europe from the East. Long the backbone of European security, NATO members must now confront hard questions: What happens if the U.S. pulls back entirely? Is Europe ready to stand on its own? U.S. Navy …

China’s economy is slowing. Amid weak borrowing, slack investment, deflationary pressures and uneven growth, the evidence points to China slipping into a "balance sheet recession"—a phenomenon our guest, Richard Koo, first diagnosed during Japan’s lost decades of the 90s, and then identified in the financial crises of both Europe and the U.S. The f…

Ukraine is at a pivotal moment. As Great Powers seek to resolve the conflict, and vie for influence, questions are surfacing over what level of commitment—military, economic, and strategic—will be required to secure Ukraine’s future. Those questions have broader implications for both Europe and the global balance of power and ultimately will help s…

The global landscape is undergoing profound shifts. The era of a U.S.-led, rules-based order is fading. In its place, we see a world driven by raw power, strategic rivalry, and shifting alliances—where military strength, economic leverage, and geopolitical maneuvering define who gets a seat at the table. This episode's guest, SAIS’s Hal Brands, see…

The dynamics of the war in Ukraine, after three years of stalemate, are showing signs of shifting. The Trump administration is pursuing direct negotiations with Russia. European leaders are meeting amongst themselves and clashing over whether to send in troops. Ukraine says it will not recognize any negotiations that do not include Kyiv. All this c…

The Munich Security Conference kicks off in Germany this Friday amid tensions on both sides of the Atlantic. Meanwhile, defense priorities are shifting with a new U.S. administration and upcoming elections in Germany and the European Union. Many items are on the agenda, but the conference will conclude with a discussion on Europe’s role in the worl…

Colombia stands at a critical economic juncture. Amid political uncertainty, shifting trade relations, security concerns and an ambitious energy transition, credit rating agencies are watching Colombia's fiscal health. A dispute with the U.S. over migrants and tariffs was resolved quickly, but focused attention on the bi-lateral relationship. Bogot…

European unity is being put to the test. Across the continent, the Ukraine war is straining resources and defense capabilities. Tech regulation is a source of tension and debate. A populist backlash against migrants is roiling politics. And transatlantic relations are evolving amid rising competition with China. Europe has survived in recent decade…

The U.S. will face a slew of foreign policy issues that will require attention in the months and years ahead: a weakened Iran in the Middle East, an economically struggling China, an expiring nuclear arms deal with Russia, a prolonged war in Ukraine, and a long list of economic issues involving friends and rivals alike.    These challenges, and geo…

After managing decades of double-digit economic expansion, China is now struggling to produce growth at half that rate, the result of a property market bust, deflation, flagging consumption and the collapse of local infrastructure investment. The upshot is growing uncertainty over Beijing’s economic, diplomatic and military role in the world, and t…

Businesses rely on water as a critical resource in the production and delivery of food and manufactured goods. Water stress can drive up costs, cause a significant disruption and lead to delays. Some say water is too cheap, too available, and often subsidized, causing overuse and poor stewardship. Our guest, Dr. Alex Money, Principal Investigator a…

Syria, now lead by Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the “Gatsby of jihadists,” faces a pivotal inflection point akin to the collapse of the Berlin Wall in the Middle East. If this government shift materializes into something more substantial, it could end decades of isolation, redraw Middle Eastern trade routes, and disrupt global power dynamics. On a speci…

This week on The Call, we speak with Josh Lipsky from the Atlantic Council about the rapid evolution of financial technology and digital payment systems, a transformative shift that is opening more possibilities for trade across borders without touching the dollar. Interest in these networks is growing in the wake of the Ukraine war, and the sancti…

The Global Intelligence Desk hosts Margaret Myers, director at think tank Inter-American Dialogue for a conversation that sheds light on the implications of China’s growing presence in Latin America. This episode was originally recorded on 11/21/24) - The Call is a series of live video conversations featuring expert guests from the U.S. Chamber's G…

Germany’s ruling coalition collapsed last fall just as Europe’s largest economy faces growing economic challenges. Energy costs are high, productivity is low, and its population is aging even as a backlash is growing against immigration – which is fragmenting the political landscape into increasingly entrenched camps. Signs are emerging that China,…

The U.S. Chamber's Global Intelligence Desk is delighted to host an episode of The Call with German Marshall Fund former president and Senior Advisor Heather A. Conley, a leading expert on the growing Chinese-Russian collaboration in the Arctic. (This episode of The Call was recorded on November 12, 2024) - The Call is a series of live video conver…

Is China fighting off a Japan-style deflationary spiral? Stephen Roach, an economist affiliated with Yale University and a long-time scholar of both China and Japan, will joins the Call to share his analysis, noting the similarities do not mean China is destined to suffer Japan’s fate – unless China’s leadership fails to rise to the challenge with …

This week, Russia hosts the 16th BRICS Summit in the southwestern city of Kazan, the first meeting since the original members - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. As the IMF and World Bank convene in Washington, President Vladimir Putin has positioned the summit as…

Host Jay Sapsford welcomes Edward Price from the NYU Center for Global Affairs to discuss the increased fragmentation of world trade as the IMF and World Bank meet in Washington while the BRICS group of nations meets in Russia. (This episode was recorded on 10/22/24) - The Call is a series of live video conversations featuring expert guests from th…

In this episode of The Call, host Jay Sapsford asks expert Professor Vali Nasr from Johns Hopkins what to expect from an increasingly volatile situation in the Middle East. (This episode was recorded on 10/3/24) - The Call is a series of live video conversations featuring expert guests from the U.S. Chamber's Global Intelligence Desk. Live access t…

In this episode of The Call, host Jay Sapsford talks to former US Ambassador to Mexico Roberta S. Jacobson and Neil Herrington from the US Chamber of Commerce about the election of Claudia Sheinbaum and what it means to future US - Mexican relations. (This episode was recorded on 9/18/2024) - The Call is a series of live video conversations featuri…

Host Jay Sapsford discusses the possible dockworkers strike with Vespucci Maritime CEO Lars Jenson and Chamber of Commerce VP John Drake (original record date 9/12/2024) - The Call is a series of live video conversations featuring expert guests from the U.S. Chamber's Global Intelligence Desk. Live access to The Call is a benefit to the Chamber’s m…