International trade

October 2, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syria faces infrastructure sabotage, Islamic State activity amid utility shortages

On October 2, the Syrian Petroleum Company said it restored a gas pipeline near Deir Ezzor after the line had been sabotaged. “The company said on Telegram that crews replaced an 18-meter section of...

October 1, 2026 | Tzvi Kahn |

Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: October

Trend Overview – ...

September 28, 2026 | Keti Korkiya |

Leaked Roadmap Shows How Moscow Is Institutionalizing Ties With Iran

Russia is transforming its partnership with Iran from a series of bilateral projects into a state-managed strategic portfolio. A nonpublic Russian government roadmap, revealed by Fox News Digital on September...

September 21, 2026 | Elaine K. Dezenski |

China is quietly taking over the North American car market

The U.S. fighting with Canada and Mexico is making the problem worse.

September 16, 2026 | Craig Singleton, RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Joe Dougherty

Previewing the Trump-Xi Summit 

September 8, 2026 | Keti Korkiya, Angela Howard

China’s Push for Transport Integration Could Expand Beijing’s Control of Central Asian Trade Routes

A new front in the U.S.-China competition is taking shape along the Middle Corridor, the critical trade route linking China and Europe while bypassing Russia and Iran. This corridor, also known as the...

September 4, 2026 | Simone Rodan-Benzaquen |

Advice to Europe: “America hasn’t won, but Iran may be losing.”

*This article was originally published in French In Europe, and especially in France, the verdict seems to be in. The United States, we are told, has pursued a strategy toward Iran that is as brutal...

August 27, 2026 | Saeed Ghasseminejad, Behnam Ben Taleblu

Operation Economic Outcast Commences, And Where It Could Head

And so, it begins. On Monday, the U.S. Treasury Department launched Operation Economic Outcast in a bid to expand the architecture of U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its network...

August 26, 2026 | Peter Doran |

How Putin’s Black Sea food fight puts the world — and your grocery bill — at risk

The oil war in the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine is turning into a food fight — with potentially disastrous implications. Moscow, fuming at strikes on its “shadow fleet” of sanctions-evading...

August 20, 2026 | Samuel Ben-Ur

Venezuela continues difficult recovery from twin earthquakes as oil sales surge

Venezuela’s recovery from the June 24 earthquakes has grown increasingly costly as the death toll has risen, infrastructure damage has become clearer, and reconstruction has placed new pressure...

August 12, 2026 | Angela Howard, Emilia Marshall

Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union Creates New Pathways for Potential Sanctions Evasion

As Western sanctions work to isolate Russia’s economy, Moscow is investing in trade backdoors. The intergovernmental council of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) concluded its 47th meeting with the...

August 8, 2026 | Daniel Swift, Cameron Timlin 

The China shock comes to Africa

Excerpt The China shock has arrived in Africa, and America’s economic relationship with the world’s fastest-growing continent is at stake. America’s own China shock is well documented. Beijing’s...

August 3, 2026 | Elaine K. Dezenski, Susan Soh

China Rejects Overproduction Allegations Amidst Greater Trade Scrutiny

Beijing is laying the groundwork for Paramount Leader Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Washington. On July 30, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with...

July 24, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syria focuses on energy deals, works to revive infrastructure and institutions

Syria is positioning itself as an alternative route for oil exports from Iraq amid the Iran conflict and its disruption of oil exports via the Strait of Hormuz. On July 17 in Washington, DC,...

July 24, 2026 | Elaine K. Dezenski, Daniel Swift

How to Get the Other Half of US Economic Statecraft Right 

The United States has the means to block adversaries from gaining an advantage in trade. However, it also needs a positive vision and toolkit for international commerce and investment.

June 11, 2026 | Samuel Ben-Ur |

Venezuela reshuffles foreign relationships as oil production grows

As foreign minister and vice president under former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez helped build many of Venezuela’s relationships with American...

June 3, 2026 | Max Meizlish, Connor Pfeiffer

Beyond the Embargo: A Toolkit for Squeezing the Cuban Regime

Opponents of U.S. sanctions often cite Cuba as “Exhibit A” for why sanctions don’t work. The United States has maintained an embargo on the island for more than six decades — but to what end? Cuba’s...

May 21, 2026 | Elaine K. Dezenski, Josh Birenbaum

After Globalization: The Case for a ‘Near-Global Economy’

The United States needs to pursue economic integration with countries that meet its free-market and geopolitical standards.

May 19, 2026 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Post-Assad Syria Is Mending Fences With Russia

The new Syrian leadership has signaled openness to the West and has even demonstrated cooperation with Ukraine — Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in April....

May 15, 2026 | Jack Burnham |

U.S.-China Summit Underlines Stalemate Between Washington and Beijing

The United States and China remain stuck in a stalemate, but Beijing isn’t likely to be disappointed. President Trump and Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping convened in Beijing on May 14 to 15 to...