Peterson Institute for International Economics

Smoke billows from the Ras Tanura oil refinery in Saudi Arabia after a reported Iranian drone strike, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran. March 2026.

Photo Credit: REUTERS/Stringer

The Iran war is raising doubts over Trump’s "America First" foreign investment goal

Gregory Auclair (PIIE) and Adnan Mazarei (PIIE)

The Iran war raises serious questions about the ability—and perhaps willingness—of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to fulfill their commitments of almost $4 trillion to investments in the United States and economic exchange.

With the US government's backing, USA Rare Earth, Inc. invested in Brazil's critical minerals sector, sparking debate over Brazil's national sovereignty. October 2025.

SOPA Images via Reuters/Timon Schneider

Photo Credit: SOPA Images via Reuters/Timon Schneider

RealTime Economics

Are Brazil's critical minerals next in line for Trump's quest to commandeer resources?

Monica de Bolle (PIIE)

September 15, 2026

Evaporation pools for lithium extraction at a plant in Bolivia. December 2023.

REUTERS/Claudia Morales

Photo Credit: REUTERS/Claudia Morales

RealTime Economics

Trump's quest for control of critical minerals and oil abroad: History predicts failure

Gary Clyde Hufbauer (PIIE)

September 15, 2026

The White House seen through its perimeter gates in Washington, DC. August 2025.

Sipa USA via REUTERS/Samuel Corum

Photo Credit: Sipa USA via REUTERS/Samuel Corum

RealTime Economics

You're already getting socialism—and Democratic Socialists have nothing to do with it

Cullen S. Hendrix (PIIE)

September 10, 2026

The US Commerce Department, a parent agency of the Census Bureau, has sparked scrutiny over the political independence of federal statistics. January 2023.

Sipa USA/Graeme Sloan

Photo Credit: Sipa USA/Graeme Sloan

RealTime Economics

Political meddling at the Census Bureau damages the entire US statistical system

Jed Kolko (PIIE)

September 1, 2026

What's New

Are Brazil's critical minerals next in line for Trump's quest to commandeer resources?

Monica de Bolle (PIIE)

September 15, 2026

Trump's quest for control of critical minerals and oil abroad: History predicts failure

Gary Clyde Hufbauer (PIIE)

September 15, 2026

The Iran war is raising doubts over Trump’s "America First" foreign investment goal

Gregory Auclair (PIIE) and Adnan Mazarei (PIIE)

September 2026

You're already getting socialism—and Democratic Socialists have nothing to do with it

Cullen S. Hendrix (PIIE)

September 10, 2026

PIIE Charts

Trump's tariff revenue tracker: How much is the US collecting? Which imports are hit?

Gary Clyde Hufbauer (PIIE) and Ye Zhang (PIIE)

August 14, 2026

Trump wants to make Greenland rich, but Denmark outperforms the US economically

Jacob Funk Kirkegaard (PIIE)

August 7, 2026

Years of US tariffs on China have largely failed to reduce dependence on Chinese suppliers

Mary E. Lovely (PIIE) and Christine Y. Wan (PIIE)

August 4, 2026

China's private sector keeps expanding in 2026, while more tech manufacturers climb into the top ranks

Tianlei Huang (PIIE) and Nicolas Véron (PIIE)

July 30, 2026

The tectonic plates of trade are moving: A new equilibrium?

September 15, 2026, 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM EDT

Cecilia Malmström (PIIE), Brendan Murray (Bloomberg), Adam S. Posen (PIIE), Tatiana Prazeres (Foreign Trade Secretary, Brazil), Vera Songwe (Brookings Institution) and Joe W. Sullivan (Office of the US Trade Representative)

Sep

Trade Winds

The state of play for global trade: Spotting trends and challenges

September 16, 2026, 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM EDT

Cecilia Malmström (PIIE), Maria Martin-Prat (European Union Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization), Nazak Nikakhtar (Wiley Rein LLP), Robert W. Staiger (World Trade Organization) and Henry Huiyao Wang (Center for China and Globalization)

Sep

What Now, Europe?