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Trade

Growing the innovation economy requires tight and deep integration of global markets—but with the critical caveat that this integration must come with strong commitments to openness and robust, market-oriented national competitiveness policies, not protectionist market distortions. ITIF's research focuses on how to promote robust trade, especially in innovation-based industries, and curb the spread of innovation mercantilism in all its forms.

Rodrigo Balbontin
Rodrigo Balbontin

Associate Director

Trade, IP, and Digital Technology Governance

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Stephen Ezell
Stephen Ezell

Vice President, Global Innovation Policy, and Director, Center for Life Sciences Innovation

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

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Featured

Retaliatory Tariffs Could Cut US ITA Exports by $56 Billion

Retaliatory Tariffs Could Cut US ITA Exports by $56 Billion

An ITIF model shows how foreign retaliation to tariffs announced by the Trump administration would reduce U.S. exports of the advance manufactured goods covered under the WTO’s Information Technology Agreement.

Toward Globalization 2.0: A New Trade Policy Framework for Advanced-Industry Leadership and National Power

Toward Globalization 2.0: A New Trade Policy Framework for Advanced-Industry Leadership and National Power

Globalization 1.0 has failed, but protectionist autarky cannot be its replacement. Instead, it is past time to craft a new kind of globalization that advances U.S. interests in key industries and prevents China from becoming the dominant techno-economic power.

The Trade Imbalance Index: Where the Trump Administration Should Take Action to Address Trade Distortions

The Trade Imbalance Index: Where the Trump Administration Should Take Action to Address Trade Distortions

As the Trump administration seeks to rebalance America’s trade relationships, it should focus the most attention on countries where U.S. industries face the worst trade distortions and imbalances, and where the greatest gains can be achieved for the U.S. economy. China, India, and the European Union top that list.

Go to the Mattresses: It’s Time to Reset U.S.-EU Tech and Trade Relations

Go to the Mattresses: It’s Time to Reset U.S.-EU Tech and Trade Relations

In its bid for tech sovereignty, the EU has been aggressively targeting U.S. firms and industries with unfair protectionist policies. This cannot stand. To move forward into a new era of deeper transatlantic trade integration, America must first demand a level playing field.

Testimony to the US House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee: Protecting American Innovation by Establishing and Enforcing Strong Digital Trade Rules

Testimony to the US House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee: Protecting American Innovation by Establishing and Enforcing Strong Digital Trade Rules

Congress needs to make clear that it expects other nations to cease and desist, while at the same time holding whoever is in the White House to high standards of more strongly incorporating digital issues into a robust trade defense strategy.

More Publications and Events

June 10, 2025|Events

Defending US Technology Leadership From Nontariff Attacks

Please join ITIF’s Aegis Project for Defending U.S. Technology Leadership for an expert panel discussion examining the growing trend of nontariff attacks on American technology companies and exploring ways U.S. policymakers can respond.

May 28, 2025|Events

Creative Insecurity: Can Trump’s Trade Threats Jolt Canada Into Action?

Please join ITIF’s Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness for a virtual panel featuring top experts as they explore whether growing external pressures might serve as a catalyst for renewed policy ambition in Canada’s innovation ecosystem.

May 12, 2025|Podcasts

Decoding the Techno-Economic Power Struggle, With Alex Capri

There is a clear linkage between technology and national security, economic strength and social stability.

May 12, 2025|Op-Eds & Contributed Articles

Never Fight a Multifront Trade War: Why the United States Will Lose

Chinese advanced industries may not have U.S. market access after the trade war, but they will have the rest of the world’s. American companies will be left with the scraps of the U.S. market. Scale will determine the winner.

May 8, 2025|Blogs

Squaring the Trump Circle: Free Markets and Tariffs

President Trump sees tariffs as an across-the-board global price reset, wherein the market, not the government, selects the firms that succeed behind America’s tariff wall.

May 7, 2025|Testimonies & Filings

Comments to the Bureau of Industry and Security Regarding Its Section 232 Investigation of Pharmaceutical Imports

Instead of blanket tariffs, America should focus first on persuading other nations to pay their fair share, and then on supporting public-private investments in novel technologies that will make U.S. pharmaceutical producers more innovative and cost-competitive.

May 7, 2025|Testimonies & Filings

Comments to the Bureau of Industry and Security Regarding Its Section 232 Investigation of Semiconductor Imports

The administration should focus foremost on addressing China’s mercantilist policies and resist the urge to impose blanket tariffs on U.S. imports of semiconductors, semiconductor inputs, or products with embedded semiconductors.

May 5, 2025|Blogs

Overly Stringent Export Controls Chip Away at American AI Leadership

While the U.S. government is right to prevent U.S. companies from selling advanced AI technology to the Chinese military, cutting U.S. companies off from the entire Chinese market is a cure worse than the disease. It will ultimately harm both U.S. national security and economic interests.

May 5, 2025|Testimonies & Filings

Comments to the UK Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Regarding the UK Government’s China Audit

ITIF offered comments on evidence the UK government should draw on; short- and long-term objectives for the UK-China relationship; areas to engage with China, and areas to draw red lines; how engagement could affect other alliances; and how to assess dependencies on China while strengthening security and resilience.

April 28, 2025|Reports & Briefings

EU Regulatory Actions Against US Tech Companies Are a De Facto Tariff System

EU policymakers frame their legislative and regulatory actions against U.S. tech companies as measures to promote competition and protect consumers. But they operate as protectionist trade barriers and revenue-generating mechanisms.

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