Retooling Trade Authorities for Economic Security

Abstract

This chapter examines how governments are adapting trade policy to pursue economic security. Rather than analyzing the causes of this shift, it focuses on how states redesign their trade objectives, policy tools, and administrative authorities to address security concerns. The chapter proposes a roadmap for policymakers, outlining key questions national—and, in the case of the European Union, regional-trade authorities should consider when integrating economic security into trade governance. Drawing on examples from major economies, including the United States, China, and Japan, the chapter illustrates how different states conceptualize economic security and equip themselves with policy instruments to pursue it. Although not a comprehensive survey, these examples highlight both converging and diverging approaches among leading economies. The analysis explores strategic choices in relations with partners and rivals, the use of existing and new trade tools, and institutional arrangements for managing economic security policies, concluding with broader implications for the evolution of international trade law.