National Competitiveness

Please join ITIF for an important policy conference on what U.S. policymakers must do to prevent America from suffering a catastrophic defeat in its techno-economic-trade war with China. At stake are vital production capabilities in the advanced, traded-sector industries that provide the foundation for economic strength and national security in the 21st century.

Please join ITIF on Capitol Hill for a discussion with industry experts and congressional staff on how to revitalize U.S. motor vehicle competitiveness, respond to the rise of China’s auto industry, and ensure America remains a leader in the technologies, supply chains, and production systems that will define the future of mobility.

Join ITIF for a discussion with the architect of the GRANITE Act and other leading experts on the challenges posed by foreign regulation of online speech and the policy options available to address them.

Canadian, Mexican, and U.S. trade negotiators should view the USMCA renewal process as an opportunity to move beyond the old free-trade model and build a strategic North American economic bloc capable of producing, innovating, and competing at the scale required by the China challenge.

China has become an increasingly capable competitor in the global biopharmaceutical industry. To remain competitive, the United States should double down on policies to ensure that it offers the world’s leading environment to support private sector life sciences innovation.

Manufacturing start-ups, particularly in critical national economic power industries, are essential to the nation’s economic and security strength. Yet, U.S. manufacturing start-ups have declined over the last three decades.

The bipartisan National Commission on Robotics Act would help jump-start a national strategy to restore U.S. leadership in robotics, a critical technology for manufacturing competitiveness, productivity, and national security as China rapidly scales its dominance.

Increased federal funding for STEM research is necessary but not sufficient for America to avoid losing to China. It’s also time for a new model for federal research funding that focuses on the technology needs of national power industries and directly benefits firms in the United States.

Canada says it wants to be a technology and innovation economy, but its research budget still treats balance across disciplines as the priority. If innovation is the actual goal, the Carney government should shift funding from social sciences and humanities toward NSERC and CIHR.

Boeing and Airbus have long dominated the global commercial aircraft industry in production and innovation. But the rise of COMAC—China’s government-created, mercantilist-fueled national champion—threatens the foundations of market-based commercial aviation.