On Dec. 4, the White House released its National Security Strategy (NSS), a document generally released once per presidential term that aims to serve as a formal explanation of the administration’s foreign policy worldview....more
The United States has increasingly recognized the role of critical minerals and rare earth elements in national security, economic resilience and defense preparedness. As the United States seeks to strengthen its economic and...more
11/11/2025
/ Defense Production Act ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Foreign Policy ,
Mining ,
National Security ,
Popular ,
Rare Earth Metals ,
Supply Chain ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Commerce Department
On Oct. 31, G7 Energy and Environment Ministers met in Toronto alongside industry partners to continue discussions focused on establishing standards-based markets for critical minerals, increasing investments in critical...more
On Sept. 30, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) officially expired, marking the end of 25 years of tariff-free treatment for U.S. imports of goods sourced from sub-Saharan African countries. Members tried to renew...more
The 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund will take place in Washington, D.C., from Monday, Oc. 13, through Saturday, Oct. 18. Convened annually, the meetings bring together central...more
In recent weeks, U.S.-India trade relations have shown signs of strain. Once considered a leading candidate for an early bilateral trade agreement, India will soon face a minimum 50% tariff, positioning it as one of the most...more
On June 30, President Donald Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum (“the Memorandum”) titled “Simplifying the Funding of Energy Infrastructure and Critical Mineral and Material Projects.” The Memorandum aims to streamline...more
President Donald Trump and members of his administration recently announced that the United States will host a U.S.-African Leaders Summit in September, planned just before the UN General Assembly in New York. This will be...more
The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 (S.1241/H.R.2548) is currently under consideration in both the Senate and the House in response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The Senate version, introduced on April 1, 2025, by...more
From May 13 to 16, President Donald Trump conducted his first major international trip of his second term, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The visit yielded major investment announcements,...more
5/22/2025
/ Defense Sector ,
Energy Sector ,
Foreign Policy ,
International Trade ,
Investment ,
Popular ,
Qatar ,
Saudi Arabia ,
Technology Sector ,
Trump Administration ,
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
On April 22, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a plan to implement across-the-board structural changes to the Department of State to bring the department in line with President Trump’s America First foreign policy...more
On Feb. 3, Panama announced its plans to leave China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino announced his decision following a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during Rubio’s...more
2/10/2025
/ China ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Foreign Policy ,
Foreign Relations ,
Infrastructure ,
International Trade ,
Investment ,
National Security ,
Popular ,
Trade Relations ,
Trump Administration
On Jan. 8, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) announced the creation of the Supply Chain Resiliency Initiative (SCRI), a targeted financing program aimed at diversifying and strengthening critical mineral and...more
Between July 24–26, trade ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and other stakeholders came to Washington, D.C., for the annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum. This year’s forum, “Beyond 2025:...more
The 28th iteration of the Conference of Parties (COP28) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from Nov. 30–Dec. 12, 2023. The meeting brings together...more
On Monday, Oct. 30, President Biden signed an Executive Order (EO) on the Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The EO is intended to establish safety standards for leading...more
On Sept. 21, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen co-hosted the Inaugural U.S. Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) Investor Forum. President Joe Biden formally...more
Biden Issues Outbound Investment Executive Order. On Aug. 9, President Joe Biden issued a long-awaited executive order (EO) that prohibits some U.S. investments in China. The EO will require reporting for certain transactions...more
Senate Adopts Outbound Investment NDAA Provision. On July 25, the Senate approved an amendment to the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) filed by Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bob Casey (D-PA) that would require...more
China Issues Restrictions on Critical Mineral Exports. On July 3, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced restrictions on the export of gallium and germanium-related products required for the manufacturing of semiconductors,...more
Secretary Yellen to Travel to Beijing. Unnamed Biden administration officials have reported Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen is planning to travel to Beijing in early July for meetings with CCP Vice Premier He Lifeng...more
7/14/2023
/ Belarus ,
China ,
Exports ,
Imports ,
India ,
Janet Yellen ,
Semiconductors ,
Singapore ,
Supply Chain ,
Trade Relations ,
US Trade Policies ,
Vladimir Putin
Secretary Blinken to Travel to Beijing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning to travel to Beijing on June 18-19 for meetings with senior PRC officials, the first visit to China by a U.S. Secretary of State since...more
6/30/2023
/ Biden Administration ,
China ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Foreign Acquisitions ,
Foreign Investment ,
Foreign Policy ,
National Security ,
Popular ,
Technology Sector ,
Trade Policy ,
Ways and Means Committee
China Rejects U.S. Request for Defense Chief Meeting. The Chinese government has declined a U.S. request for a meeting between the defense chiefs for the two nations, according to an announcement from the Pentagon. The...more
China Sends Peace Envoy to Ukraine after Xi and Zelenskyy Speak: Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, marking the first time the two leaders have spoken with each other...more
While the Biden administration has refrained from releasing a formal China strategy, recent speeches on U.S.-China relations by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have provided key...more