Trade in the Political Crosshairs SIS Conference: Europe and Africa

Trade, today, is dominating headlines once again. How will Europe and Africa be affected? More importantly, how will they respond?

As the second Trump administration takes shape, trade policy is once again at the forefront of global economic discussions. Many of the disruptive policies from Trump’s first term are being amplified, expanding their reach to both geopolitical rivals and key allies. While the Biden administration prioritized strategic coordination with allies and the protection of key industries, it largely avoided traditional market access negotiations. Now, Trump’s second-term trade agenda is broader, more aggressive, and poised to reshape global economic relationships.

This half-day conference will explore these critical trade developments. AU Professor Robert Koopman will open with an in-depth update on global trade flows and policies, providing economic insights into their potential effects. The discussion will then continue with two expert panels examining how Europe and Africa are adapting to the evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape. Panelists will discuss what businesses and governments anticipate in the coming months and how they are approaching global cooperation and integration in this shifting environment.

Keynote Speaker

Robert Koopman, AU-SIS Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer and Editor-in-Chief of the Global Value Chain Development Report, 2025

Panelists

Dan Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council

Michelangelo Margherita, Head of Trade and Agriculture Section in Washington, European Union

Tiffany Smith, Vice President for Global Trade Policy, National Foreign Trade Council

Florie Liser, President and CEO, Corporate Council on Africa

Natalie Hanson, Principal and CEO, Textile Trade Solutions

Moderators

Michelle Egan, AU-SIS Professor; Co-Director, Transatlantic Policy Center; and Global Fellow, Wilson Center

Carl LeVan, AU-SIS Professor; Associate Researcher, African Centre for the study of the United States; Editorial Board Member, Journal of Modern African Studies

For more information, please visit https://edspace.american.edu/sisintrade/2025-conference/