Affirming American Leadership

CSIS Trade Commission

The CSIS Trade Commission on Affirming American Leadership is focused on developing a positive trade agenda for the United States. Since the end of the Second World War, the United States has wielded its unmatched economic strength with strong policy leadership as tools of international influence and American grand strategy. The United States has built global institutions, showcased the virtues of core American values, and spread peace and prosperity around the world. Today, nearly 20 years into the twenty-first century, the world is being reshaped by accelerating technological advances and geopolitical shifts. At home, the United States faces growing economic inequality and rapidly changing workforce needs. Abroad, economic competitors are growing into rivals, threatening American economic leadership on the world stage. These developments create challenges to U.S. economic leadership with roots at home and abroad. CSIS has convened this high-level commission to examine these challenges and offer recommendations to cement American trade leadership in the twenty-first century.

To learn more about the commission, visit our microsite.

REPORT

Affirming American Leadership: A Call to Action

September 16, 2020 | Frederick W. Smith, William E. Brock

The CSIS Trade Commission on Affirming American Leadership sets out bold recommendations for the U.S. workforce, U.S. innovation policy, and the international trading system to revitalize and affirm U.S. leadership.

Publications

REPORT

Toward a New Global Trade Framework

February 02, 2021 | William Alan Reinsch, Dylan Gerstel, , Matthew P. Goodman, Scott Miller

The CSIS Commission on Affirming American leadership recommends three elements of a new trade policy that will help establish a comprehensive trade policy appropriate for the twenty-first century.

REPORT

Sharpening America’s Innovative Edge

October 16, 2020 | Matthew P. Goodman, Dylan Gerstel, , William Alan Reinsch, Scott Miller

This report recommends seven elements of a new approach to innovation policy in the United States. It is the third of four reports of the CSIS Trade Commission that call for action to revitalize and affirm American leadership in the world.

REPORT

Preparing the Workforce for 2030: A Pillar of Trade Leadership

October 2, 2020 | William Alan Reinsch, Jack Caporal, Matthew P. Goodman, Scott Miller

This report recommends nine elements of a new approach to workforce development in the United States. It is the second of four reports of the CSIS Trade Commission that call for action to revitalize and affirm American leadership in the world.

REPORT

Key Trends in the Global Economy through 2030

September 16, 2020 | William Alan Reinsch, Jack Caporal

This report outlines the makeup of the U.S. economy, key trends in global supply chains, and the future of the digital economy. It is the first of four reports of the CSIS Trade Commission that call for action to revitalize and affirm American leadership in the world.

Events

EVENT

Online Event: Toward a New Global Trade Framework

February 02, 2021 | Scott Miller, William Alan Reinsch

Senator William E. Brock, Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky, and Mr. William Alan Reinsch discuss the commission’s recommendations for a twenty-first century trade policy.

EVENT

Online Event: Sharpening America's Innovative Edge

Oct 16 2020 | Matthew P. Goodman

A dynamic private sector, a skilled workforce, leading universities, and federal support for research and development (R&D), reinforced by an open trade and investment environment, kept America at the innovation frontier for decades.

EVENT

Online Event: Preparing the Workforce for 2030: A Pillar of Trade Leadership

October 2, 2020 | William Alan Reinsch

CSIS hosts a discussion on how the United States can develop a competitive workforce for the new global economy.

EVENT

Schieffer Series: U.S. Trade and Economic Leadership in the Next Decade

September 23, 2020 | John J. Hamre, Frederick W. Smith, Willaim E. Brock, Nina Easton

Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky, Senator William E. Brock, and Mr. Frederick W. Smith spoke with guest moderator Nina Easton about their year-long work developing recommendations to cement U.S. global leadership in light of twenty-first century challenges.

Co-Chairs

Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky
Partner at WilmerHale; former USTR from 1997-2001

Senator William E. Brock
Former USTR from 1981-1985; Former Secretary of Labor from 1985-1987; U.S. Senator from Tennessee from 1971-1977; CSIS Counselor and Trustee

Mr. Frederick W. Smith
Chairman and CEO of FedEx Corporation; CSIS Trustee

Commissioners

Dr. Byron G. Auguste
CEO & CO-Founder, Opportunity@Work

Mr. Ajay Banga
CEO & President of Mastercard

Dr. Craig Barrett
Former Chairman & CEO of Intel Corporation from 1998-2009

Mr. Gary J. Baumgartner
President & CEO of GJB Inc.

Mr. Joshua Bolten
President & CEO of the Business Roundtable; Former White House Chief of Staff from 2006-2009

Ms. Joyce Chang
Chair of Global Research, J.P. Morgan

Mr. David Cohen
Partner at WilmerHale; Former Deputy Director of the CIA from 2015-2017

Mr. Zippy Duvall
President of the American Farm Bureau Federation

Mr. Evan Greenberg
CEO of Chubb Limited; CSIS Trustee

Ambassador Carla A. Hills
CEO of Hills & Co. Former USTR from 1989-1993; Former Secretary of Housing & Urban Development from 1975-1977; CSIS Counselor and Trustee

Dr. Richard Levin
Former President of Yale University from 1993-2013

Mr. W. James McNerney
Chairman of the President’s Export Council from 2010-2015; Senior Advisor with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice; Former Chairman, President & CEO of The Boeing Company from 2005-2015; CSIS Trustee

Mr. Henry H. McVey
Member & Head of Global Macro & Asset Allocation, CIO of KKR Balance Sheet, KKR

Mr. Michael J. Rogers
Former U.S. Representative (MI-08)

Ms. Kavita Shukla
Founder & CEO of FreshPaper

Mr. Jay Timmons
President & CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers

Dr. Laura D. Tyson
Distinguished Professor at the Hass School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley; former U.S. Council of Economic Advisers Chairwomen