Skip to main content
  • Sections
  • Search

Center for Strategic & International Studies

User menu

  • Subscribe
  • Sign In

Topics

  • Climate Change
  • Cybersecurity and Technology
    • Cybersecurity
    • Data Governance
    • Intellectual Property
    • Intelligence, Surveillance, and Privacy
    • Military Technology
    • Space
    • Technology and Innovation
  • Defense and Security
    • Counterterrorism and Homeland Security
    • Defense Budget
    • Defense Industry, Acquisition, and Innovation
    • Defense Strategy and Capabilities
    • Geopolitics and International Security
    • Long-Term Futures
    • Missile Defense
    • Space
    • Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation
  • Economics
    • Asian Economics
    • Global Economic Governance
    • Trade and International Business
  • Energy and Sustainability
    • Energy, Climate Change, and Environmental Impacts
    • Energy and Geopolitics
    • Energy Innovation
    • Energy Markets, Trends, and Outlooks
  • Global Health
    • Family Planning, Maternal and Child Health, and Immunizations
    • Multilateral Institutions
    • Health and Security
    • Infectious Disease
  • Human Rights
    • Building Sustainable and Inclusive Democracy
    • Business and Human Rights
    • Responding to Egregious Human Rights Abuses
    • Civil Society
    • Transitional Justice
    • Human Security
  • International Development
    • Food and Agriculture
    • Governance and Rule of Law
    • Humanitarian Assistance
    • Human Mobility
    • Private Sector Development
    • U.S. Development Policy

Regions

  • Africa
    • North Africa
    • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Americas
    • Caribbean
    • North America
    • South America
  • Arctic
  • Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Australia, New Zealand & Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Korea
    • Pakistan
    • Southeast Asia
  • Europe
    • European Union
    • NATO
    • Post-Soviet Europe
    • Turkey
  • Middle East
    • The Gulf
    • Egypt and the Levant
    • North Africa
  • Russia and Eurasia
    • The South Caucasus
    • Central Asia
    • Post-Soviet Europe
    • Russia

Sections menu

  • Programs
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Analysis
    • Blogs
    • Books
    • Commentary
    • Congressional Testimony
    • Critical Questions
    • Interactive Reports
    • Journals
    • Newsletter
    • Reports
    • Transcript
  • Podcasts
  • iDeas Lab
  • Transcripts
  • Web Projects

Main menu

  • About Us
  • Support CSIS
    • Securing Our Future
Report
Share
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Printfriendly.com

Crafting U.S. Economic Strategy toward Asia

Lessons Learned from 30 Years of Experience

October 27, 2008

ISBN# 978-0-89206-554-7 (pb)

Among the many pressing realities that will confront a new U.S. administration in January 2009—whether Republican or Democratic—is the need to manage the challenges and opportunities of a rising Asia. Growing trade and investment flows across the Pacific offer substantial economic benefits to Americans; yet they also create significant risks in both the economic and political spheres. In particular, with the U.S. economy weakened by financial instability and high commodity prices, and Congress more inclined to constrain than embrace globalization, there are a number of potential flashpoints in U.S. economic relations with Asia—from a backlash against high-profile Chinese investments to outrage over tainted children’s toys—that could ignite early in a new president’s term.

The purpose of this report of the CSIS Asia Economic Task Force is to draw out some of the broad lessons learned from three decades of economic policymaking toward Asia and to offer recommendations for managing economic relations with three major countries in the region—China, Japan, and India. The report examines the process of managing economic relations with Asian countries: how the U.S. government should organize itself; how it should approach counterpart governments; how it should communicate with the media, Congress, etc. The authors do not dwell on the substantive questions that arise in those relations—for example, what should our currency policy toward China be; should we discuss energy policy with India; what incentives are needed to persuade Japan to open its agriculture market? Those questions are important and worthy of examination elsewhere. However, process often determines the ultimate effectiveness—or otherwise—of any economic strategy. Therefore, rather than laying out a substantive agenda for policy engagement with Asia, this report is intended to offer the next administration a practical guide to governing in this important policy area.

Downloads
Crafting U.S. Economic Strategy toward Asia
Written By
Charles Freeman
Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Economic and Trade Affairs
  • Twitter
Matthew P. Goodman
Senior Vice President for Economics
Purchase paperback
Media Queries
Contact H. Andrew Schwartz
Chief Communications Officer
Tel: 202.775.3242

Contact Paige Montfort
Media Relations Coordinator, External Relations
Tel: 202.775.3173
Related
Asia, Asian Economics, China Reality Check, Economic Statecraft Series, Economics, Economics Program, Freeman Chair in China Studies

Most Recent From Charles Freeman

On Demand Event
China’s Competitiveness
January 30, 2013
Press Release
China’s Competitiveness: Myths, Realities, and Lessons for the United States and Japan
By Charles Freeman, James Andrew Lewis, Michael J. Green
January 29, 2013
In the News
Deep read: The rise of ChinAfrica
July 17, 2012
Journal
TWQ: The Influence and Illusion of China’s New Left - Winter 2012
By Charles Freeman
January 1, 2012
Report
Implementing Health Care Reform Policies in China
By Charles Freeman
December 2, 2011
Report
Freeman Briefing: China's Investment in the United States
By Charles Freeman
November 8, 2011
In the News
US gropes, muscular China wrestles
August 19, 2011
In the News
US turns other cheek at China debt lashing
August 9, 2011
View all content by this expert
Footer menu
  • Topics
  • Regions
  • Programs
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Analysis
  • Web Projects
  • Podcasts
  • iDeas Lab
  • Transcripts
  • About Us
  • Support Us
Contact CSIS
Email CSIS
Tel: 202.887.0200
Fax: 202.775.3199
Visit CSIS Headquarters
1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Media Queries
Contact H. Andrew Schwartz
Chief Communications Officer
Tel: 202.775.3242

Contact Paige Montfort
Media Relations Coordinator, External Relations
Tel: 202.775.3173

Daily Updates

Sign up to receive The Evening, a daily brief on the news, events, and people shaping the world of international affairs.

Subscribe to CSIS Newsletters

Follow CSIS
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

All content © 2022. All rights reserved.

Legal menu
  • Credits
  • Privacy Policy
  • Reprint Permissions