Full course description
School of Advanced International Studies | Executive Briefing & Roundtable
September 8, 2025 | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET | Hopkins Bloomberg Center
Trade Turmoil: Navigating the New Global Economy
The stakes have never been higher. For 25 years, the world has thrived on increasing economic integration, driven by booming international investments, and globalized production and supply chains. But that global trade landscape is now in turmoil.
Global economic fragmentation is accelerating. Geopolitical tensions, national security concerns, and shifting political landscapes are upending long-established trade relationships and economic interdependence. The rules of global commerce are being rewritten.
This action-oriented Executive Briefing & Roundtable is designed for senior executives who need timely, strategic insights to navigate shifting global power dynamics, emerging risks, and the current volatile blend of economic and political uncertainties.
You'll engage with thought-leading academics, seasoned policy experts, and senior trade representatives from Canada and Mexico for in-depth presentations, analysis, and discussion on the evolving global trade landscape. You will gain exclusive insights into national, regional, and international trade policy dynamics and take away a multi-dimensional strategic understanding of what to look for next and how to prepare for a more resilient future.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- U.S. Trade Policy in Transition: Dr. Jonas Nahm unpacks which ongoing policy shifts signal real change and which are political noise, and what these dynamics mean for business and global markets.
- Foreign and Defense Policy Recalibration: Dr. Mara Karlin explores how U.S. strategic posture is evolving—impacting global cooperation, competition, and conflict.
- Global Reactions from Europe and China: Drs. Matthias Matthijs and Carla Freeman analyze how leading global powers are responding to U.S. policy moves and resetting their own trade and security strategies.
- Exclusive, Current Perspectives from Canada and Mexico: Senior trade representatives weigh in on the realignment of North American trade under USMCA and beyond.
- Strategic Planning Insights: Identify strategic watchpoints and triggers and assess how best to incorporate these insights into a resilient global trade strategy.
KEY SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Dr. Jonas Nahm is an Associate Professor at SAIS, specializing in global trade, industrial policy, and clean energy transitions. His award-winning book, Collaborative Advantage (Oxford, 2021), explores the global wind and solar industries, and his research examines how economic coalitions and state strategies shape green industrial policy and the political economy of climate action.
Dr. Matthias Matthijs holds the Dean Acheson Chair at SAIS and is an Associate Professor of International Political Economy. His research focuses on economic crises, policymaking, and regional integration. He has published widely in top academic journals and outlets such as Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy. He co-edited The Future of the Euro (Oxford, 2015), and he is currently working on a book about the collapse of elite consensus on European integration.
Dr. Carla Freeman is Director of the Foreign Policy Institute (FPI) at SAIS and Senior Lecturer in International Affairs. Previously leading FPI from 2013 to 2021, she brings extensive experience across academia, government, and the nonprofit sector. Most recently a senior expert for China at the U.S. Institute of Peace, her research focuses on China’s foreign policy, space activities, and U.S.-China crisis communications.
Dr. Mara Karlin is a Professor of Practice at SAIS and faculty co-lead for the Security, Strategy, and Statecraft focus area. She has served in senior national security roles for six U.S. secretaries of defense, most recently as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities, where she led the 2022 National Defense Strategy. A Visiting Fellow at Brookings, she has authored two books on military history and policy and is a recipient of the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal.
Location, Date and Time
- Format: In-Person
- Location: Hopkins Bloomberg Center, 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC
- Date: Monday, September 8, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (ET)
Enrollment closes Friday, August 22, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Course Policies
JHU ALUMNI ENROLLMENT
JHU Alumni are eligible for a discount. If you are a JHU alum, please contact ExecEdSAIS@jh.edu* prior to enrollment for verification and to receive your unique promo code. NOTE: Non-SAIS alumni may be waitlisted if a course exceeds the registration cap.
Upon receipt, return to the course registration page to enter your promo code and complete the registration process.
Please do not use your JHU Alumni email to register for courses. This email account will not work with the registration platform. We recommend you register using a non-JHU email such as Gmail or Outlook.
LEARNING PREREQUISITES
None
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Hardware: computer or cellphone with access to internet; Software: email
COURSE LIFECYCLE
After registering you will receive an email confirming your registration. You will be given access to a Canvas course that includes complete course information. You will have access to the Canvas course for the duration of the course.
PARTICIPANT CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY
No refunds will be issued for this event, however you may transfer your enrollment to someone else. Enrollment transfer requests should be emailed to ExecEdSAIS@jhu.edu*
COURSE CANCELLATION POLICY
Program dates, fees, and faculty may be subject to change. If a course must be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, SAIS Executive Education will refund the full program tuition. However, SAIS is not liable for travel, accommodation, or any other expenses incurred by the participant. Changes to the program or schedule will be communicated via email, and alternative program dates will be provided once available.
ACCESSIBILITY
JHU SAIS is committed to providing all participants with the opportunity to pursue excellence in their academic endeavors. This includes providing disability related accommodations and services in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and our goal of delivering accessible, inclusive experiences. If you require accommodations to complete this course, please reach out to EDT@jhu.edu*.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Direct all technical support requests to the SAIS Educational Design and Technology office email: EDT@jhu.edu*. We will respond to requests within 24-48 hours. Requests received on weekends, overnights and holidays will be responded to on the next business day.
ACCREDITATION
JHU is not approved by Middle States for direct assessment credentials for academic credit. This course results in a certificate of completion. It will not show on any JHU transcripts and does not count toward an academic record.
*Do not share any personal identifiable information (PII) such as social security number or grades in any messages to EDT@jhu.edu or ExecEdSAIS@jh.edu.