Publications: Robert D. Atkinson

The EU over the last 7 years has cravenly ducked the industrial fight against China, attempting to expand its exports while America shoulders the costs. That cannot be allowed to continue as the new Trump administration ratchets up pressure against our common adversary.

China’s primary goal is to damage the U.S. economy and become the world’s pre-eminent power. America must respond by expanding its competitiveness in key technologies and industries ranging from AI to aerospace.

With the CHIPS and Science Act, Congress intended to concentrate resources in a select few places to help them become self-sustaining, globally competitive advanced-technology regions. Unfortunately, four separate agencies established regional tech hub programs, disbursing awards across 48 states. Going forward, Congress needs to decide on one approach or the other.

U.S. immigration policy should focus on strengthening strategic skills in advanced sectors. It is in America’s best interest to have the world’s best scientists and engineers working in our STEM industries.

It isn’t often you read a book that advocates for arguably the two most evil, destructive ideas ever advocated: Marxist communism and economic degrowth. One would be bad. Both, as Tokyo University professor Kohei Saito advocates for, are truly horrific.

Section 337 was made into law to help address unfair foreign trade practices. It should be used vigorously to prevent the import of IP-infringing products from firms that systemically benefit from unfair government practices in non-market, non-rule-of-law economies such as China.

What is the correct economic strategy for a nation?

The president-elect is right to reject the consensus opinion in Washington that trade deficits don’t matter. But tariffs won’t solve the problem. The better solution is to drive down the value of the dollar and drive up domestic production in advanced industries.

President-elect Trump believes the era of U.S.-led globalization has been harmful to America. One way he intends to change course is by imposing tariffs on nations that take advantage of U.S. goodwill and leadership. At greatest risk will be nations with low military budgets, high trade balances, policy barriers to reciprocal trade, and soft positions on China.

Calvin Coolidge was right when he said, “the chief business of the American people is business.” We need to reembrace that ethos by making sure our social contract rewards companies that bring new innovations to market, boost productivity, fight like hell for global market share, and sustain as many high-value jobs at home as is economically feasible.