Economic security is becoming increasingly important amidst growing geopolitical tensions. In light of China's 2010 rare earth mineral export restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on supply chains, Japan has prioritised not only strengthening supply chain resilience and market competitiveness but also building up Japan's geo-economic influence to counteract foreign economic pressure through the 2022 Economic Security Promotion Act.

How does Japan's idea of economic security differ from the United States and Europe? What role does government-industry coordination play? And what lessons can Australia draw from Japan’s experience?

Kazuto Suzuki sat down with USSC Director of Research Jared Mondschein to discuss these questions. Kazuto is a professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo and Director of the Institute of Geoeconomics at the International House of Japan.

This activity was supported by the Australian Government via a grant from the Australia-Japan Foundation.

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

Initial results of Elbridge Colby’s AUKUS review are expected soon, but this feeds into broader conversations around increasing defence spending and even the role Australia can play in Trump’s “Golden Dome” project.

Where have we seen shifts and continuity from Biden to Trump in defence policy? How can Australia thread the needle to negotiate best outcomes for AUKUS by looking at Golden Dome and defence spending? What impact is Trump’s defence policy having in the Indo-Pacific?

Kelly Magsamen joined Mari Koeck on the podcast to discuss these issues. Kelly was former Chief of Staff to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and she is a Senior Advisor at The Asia Group. Kelly was a visiting fellow with the USSC as part of the Centre’s “Next Generation Leaders in the Australia-US Alliance” project.

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

In the third episode in our series on Unpacking Trump 2.0 we sat down with USSC Senior Economic Adviser Dr John Kunkel to talk about tariffs under President Trump.

Where did President Trump’s love of tariffs come from? Are they effective? And how can US trading partners respond?

For more on this topic, check out Dr Kunkel’s write-up for Unpacking Trump 2.0, Tariffs: Uncertainty abounds.

Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat