Barath Harithas

Senior Fellow, Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business
Barath Harithas

Barath Harithas is a senior fellow in the Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, focusing on issues at the intersection of national security, trade, and technology. He has held diverse public service roles in Singapore spanning the U.S.-China relationship, international trade, and AI standards. He began his career in the Singapore Foreign Service focusing on key flashpoints in the U.S.-China rivalry, such as the South China Sea conflict, the trade war, and escalating AI competition. He was subsequently a trade negotiator and was on the policy team for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the largest and most ambitious free trade agreement signed to date. Most recently, Barath led the development of AI and cybersecurity standards in Singapore and has led engagements with various international organizations including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, G20, World Trade Organization, International Organization for Standardization, and International Electrotechnical Commission. In addition, as a key founding member of the first and only pan-Asian trade association, he advocated on a range of digital issues for its 3,000 members across 29 Asia-Pacific countries. Prior to his public service stint, Barath served in the Singapore Armed Forces as a captain. He has a BA in political science from the National University of Singapore and an MPP from Harvard Kennedy School, where he was a John F. Kennedy Fellow, Belfer Young Leader, and Fulbright scholar.

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Three Points on Trump’s “Reciprocal” Tariffs

Beginning on April 9, the United States will impose country-specific “reciprocal” tariffs targeting 57 named countries, with rates reaching as high as 50 percent. At a minimum, each country will pay a 10 percent tariff, which went into effect on April 5.

Analysis by Barath Harithas, Evan Brown, and Catharine Mouradian — April 7, 2025

“Liberation Day” Tariffs Explained

This analysis from the CSIS Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business unpacks the April 2 tariff announcements from the White House.

Commentary by Barath Harithas, Kyle Meng, Evan Brown, and Catharine Mouradian — April 3, 2025

Audio Briefs

“Liberation Day” Tariffs Explained

An audio version of “'Liberation Day' Tariffs Explained,” a new commentary by CSIS's Barath Harithas. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Barath Harithas, Kyle Meng, Evan Brown, and Catharine Mouradian — April 3, 2025

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Audio Briefs

Securing Full Stack U.S. Leadership in AI

An audio version of “Securing Full Stack U.S. Leadership in AI,” a new commentary by CSIS's Navin Girishankar, Joseph Majkut, Cy McGeady, Barath Harithas, and Karl Smith. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Navin Girishankar, Joseph Majkut, Cy McGeady, Barath Harithas, and Karl Smith — March 4, 2025

Audio Briefs

The AI Power Surge: Growth Scenarios for GenAI Datacenters Through 2030

This paper examines the feasibility and implications of sustained growth in generative AI (genAI) infrastructure through 2030, focusing on three potential constraints: financing, hardware availability, and electric power demands.

Report by Karl Smith, Joseph Majkut, Cy McGeady, and Barath Harithas — March 3, 2025

The Electricity Supply Bottleneck on U.S. AI Dominance

This paper demonstrates how electricity supply is the most acutely binding constraint on expanded U.S. computational capacity and, therefore, U.S. AI dominance.

Report by Cy McGeady, Joseph Majkut, Barath Harithas, and Karl Smith — March 3, 2025

Securing Full Stack U.S. Leadership in AI

The United States leads in AI, but staying ahead requires scaling compute, energy, and capital. This commentary previews new Energy Security and Climate Change research on AI infrastructure, domestic chip production, and energy security to ensure long-term competitiveness.

Commentary by Navin Girishankar, Joseph Majkut, Cy McGeady, Barath Harithas, and Karl Smith — March 3, 2025