Project on Trade and Technology

The Project on Trade and Technology conducts original research on export controls, investment screening, economic statecraft, and technology alliances

Definitions of national security and economic security are increasingly concentric, resulting in profound changes to how the United States engages with the world. In tandem, issues like technology competition and export controls are playing an increasingly prominent role in foreign affairs, moving to the forefront of geopolitics. The Project on Trade and Technology researches these shifts and crafts policy roadmaps to enable the United States and its allies to capitalize on these seismic changes. Specific topics include:

  • Export Controls, Outbound Investment Screening, and other Trade Tools
  • Multilateral export control regimes
  • The Geopolitics of Trade and Technology
  • Allied Economic Engagement
  • Technology Alliances and Great Power Competition
  • Semiconductor Supply Chains
  • Emerging and Disruptive Technologies such as AI, Quantum Technology, and Biotechnology

As the world shifts towards an increasingly multipolar reality, crafting the right policies can better position the United States to capitalize on these changes, enhancing its national and economic security, while future-proofing its technology alliances.

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Emily Benson

Emily Benson

Emily Benson

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Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Optimizing Export Controls for Critical and Emerging Technologies

When it comes to export controls on critical and emerging technologies, the United States must focus on regulating items essential to national security while permitting the growth of industries that do not aid foreign military capabilities.

Report by William Alan Reinsch , Emily Benson , Thibault Denamiel , and Margot Putnam — May 31, 2023

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Recent Analysis

Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images

The Fall 2023 Geoeconomic Agenda: What to Expect

This year has already been geopolitically dynamic. As the fall summit season kicks off, CSIS highlights some of the key events to follow and how they stand to impact the nexus of geopolitics, trade, and technology. 

Commentary by Emily Benson and Catharine Mouradian — September 6, 2023

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CPTPP and the Future of Trade in the Indo-Pacific

Please join the CSIS Project on Trade and Technology and the Economics Program for a conversation with Vangelis Vitalis, New Zealand's Deputy Secretary for Trade and Economics and Crawford Falconer, the UK's Second Permanent Secretary and Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser. The event will review New Zealand's host year of CPTPP, unpack the UK's accession into the free trade agreement, and discuss the future of trade in the Indo-Pacific. 

Event by Emily Benson , Erin L. Murphy , Vangelis Vitalis , and Crawford Falconer — September 20, 2023

The Fall 2023 Geoeconomic Agenda: What to Expect

This year has already been geopolitically dynamic. As the fall summit season kicks off, CSIS highlights some of the key events to follow and how they stand to impact the nexus of geopolitics, trade, and technology. 

Commentary by Emily Benson and Catharine Mouradian — September 6, 2023

Evaluating Europe's Economic Security Strategy

A new CSIS commentary evaluates a growing convergence in transatlantic approaches within an evolving geopolitical environment that increasingly centers policy around economic security issues.

Commentary by Federico Steinberg and Emily Benson — July 13, 2023

Key Takeaways from the TTC Ministerial in Sweden

The meeting of U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) on May 30 and 31 has produced progress in key areas of emerging technology, but onlookers should not take the continued existence of the TTC for granted.

Critical Questions by Catharine Mouradian and Emily Benson — June 8, 2023

Optimizing Export Controls for Critical and Emerging Technologies

When it comes to export controls on critical and emerging technologies, the United States must focus on regulating items essential to national security while permitting the growth of industries that do not aid foreign military capabilities.

Report by William Alan Reinsch , Emily Benson , Thibault Denamiel , and Margot Putnam — May 31, 2023

The United States Prepares to Screen Outbound Investment

The Biden administration is likely to release an executive order establishing an outbound investment screening mechanism. Combined with broadening export controls, screening outbound capital flows underscores a new frontier in economic security and technology policy.

Commentary by Emily Benson and Margot Putnam — April 27, 2023

Export Controls and Intangible Goods

The intangible goods economy is replete with AI systems and spyware, but the current export control system has not kept up. The United States and multilateral systems merit a significant upgrade, particularly to deal with intangible goods flows.

Critical Questions by Emily Benson and Margot Putnam — April 11, 2023