ARC ENERGY IDEAS Edward Fishman on American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare
Feb 17, 2026
Edward Fishman, Columbia international-affairs scholar and author of Chokepoints, discusses U.S. geoeconomic strategy and sanctions. Robert (RJ) Johnston, Canadian energy policy director, brings a Canada-focused perspective. They explore tariffs as economic weapons, middle-power responses and market diversification, China’s growing self-sufficiency, and what could weaken dollar-era leverage.
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Three R's To Withstand Coercion
- Resolve, resilience, and retaliation matter when facing U.S. coercion.
- Countries that galvanized public support, found alternate markets, and pushed back created deterrence and reduced escalation.
Rare Earths Changed The Game
- China's rare-earth export controls in 2025 shifted U.S. policy and discredited hardline approaches.
- Weaponizing supply chains can establish deterrence without automatic escalation.
Build Infrastructure To Diversify Markets
- Canada should invest in export infrastructure to reach Asia rather than rely solely on the U.S. market.
- Accept short-term pain while building pipelines, terminals, and routes to diversify customer options.
