Geoeconomic Competition

In this episode of Geoeconomic Competition, Francesca Ghiretti discusses the EU's vulnerabilities - real and only perceived - with Luke Patey, Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS). The episode starts with critical minerals and then expands to other sectors to build the argument that the EU is less vulnerable to China than it thinks. 

In this episode of Geoeconomic Competition, Francesca Ghiretti discusses the recently announced US tariffs with Ilaria Mazzocco, Senior Fellow with the Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The episode explain what is section 301, the reason for the adoption of this latest round of tariffs, why EV are the centre of attention and last, but not least, what Beijing thinks of them. 

In this episode of Geoeconomic Competition, Francesca Ghiretti discusses the issue of extraterritoriality with Georgina Wright, Deputy Director for International Studies at Institute Montaigne . The episode is a primer on the complex topic of extraterritorial measures, which are growing in number and in importance. What is extraterritoriality? And what should we do about it? Are only two of the questions addressed in this episode and in the report on extraterritoriality published by Institute Montaigne.

In this episode, Francesca Ghiretti discusses outbound investment screening with Sarah Bauerle Danzman, Associate Professor at Indiana University and Scholar in Residence at the Atlantic Council . The episode explores the emergence of the debate in the US, the (potential) implications of the regulation that will follow the executive order, and the different ways to approach the issue. 

In this third (and last) episode of the short series on industrial policies, Francesca Ghiretti engages with Todd Tucker, Director of Industrial Policy and Trade at the Roosevelt Institute. The episode focuses on the US' turn to industrial policies, what has driven it, what are its main components and focus points, how much it has already contributed to US' competitiveness and where it is going. The episode also explores the question of a potential subsidy race and the role of coordination with partners. 

In this second episode of a short series of episodes on industrial policies, Francesca Ghiretti engages with Camille Boullenois, Associate Director at Rhodium Group. The episode challenges the idea that China's industrial policies have led only to successes and cautions against attempting to replicate a similar model in Europe. Overcapacity is only one of the issues that have emerged in China. 

In the first episode of the series on industrial policies, Francesca is joined by Simone Tagliapietra, Senior fellow at Bruegel and Professor of Energy, Climate and Environmental Policy at the Catholic University of Milan and at The Johns Hopkins University - School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Europe. In the episode, Simone explains why it is vital for the EU to get the green tech ‘revolution’ right. To do so, the episode addresses the EU’s approach to the green transition, the role of industrial policy and investments in green technologies. Particular attention is paid to the debate on the balance between the EU’s liberal approach and the emerging interventionist trend. 

On the 23rd of February, the EU adopted the 13th package of sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine. In this episode, Francesca Ghiretti engages with Maria Shagina, Senior Fellow in Economic Sanctions, Standards and Strategy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).  Maria introduces seven lessons to be learned from the sanctions imposed on Russia in the past two years: 1. understand your target well; 2. understand the limitation of sanctions in a military conflict; 3. clarify objective and end game; 4. foster international cooperation, 5. increase domestic resilience, 6. understand the response from the target and 7. enforcement. The episode also touches upon the difficulty of sanctioning actors like China and on the perennial debate over the efficacy of sanctions. Articles referenced in the podcast can be found here: https://www.ft.com/content/4ac30222-2d15-4d4a-a025-9e5793157610https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/coercing-constraining-signalling-explaining-un-and-eu-sanctions-a 

Japan has been one of the first countries to adopt a policy for economy security, the Economic Security Promotion Act, and to appoint a Minister for Economic Security. In this episode, I have the pleasure to chat with Kazuto Suzuki, Director & Group Head, Economic Security at the Institute of Geoeconomics in Tokyo. This episode's content spans from Japan's own experience with economic security, and the country's ability to use economic security to promote the flourishing of a semiconductor industry, to the possibility for collaboration with the EU to safeguard a rules-based international system. Finally, it touches upon the G7; the attention to economic security that Japan's Presidency paid in 2023 and where the Italian Presidency in 2024 could consolidate and strengthen the G7 economic security agenda.

On the 30th and 31st of January, the US and the EU held the 5th Ministerial meeting on the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Washington DC. In this episode, Francesca Ghiretti engages with Emily Benson Director of Project on Trade and Technology at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The episode touches upon the origins and evolution of the TTC, including opportunities and challenges it faces. It dives into the most recent Ministerial meeting and some of the debates that have emerged such as a potential Wassenaar -1 for export controls.