- April 21, 2026
- ; 16:30
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- April 21, 2026
- ; 18:00
How should the United States and Europe respond as economic interdependence increasingly turns into a strategic vulnerability? This question stood at the center of Aspen Germany’s second virtual workshop of the 2025–2026 German-American Trade and Technology Dialogue, held on April 21, 2026, on “Economic Security and Weaponized Interdependence: Transatlantic Responses in a Fragmenting World.”
Bringing together senior representatives from government, business, and think tanks, the discussion examined how geopolitical tensions, systemic competition, and supply chain vulnerabilities are reshaping global trade and economic policy. Participants agreed that economic security has become a central organizing principle of policymaking, increasingly linking trade, industrial policy, technology, and national security.
While both sides of the Atlantic share concerns about strategic dependencies and non-market practices, important differences remain in their policy approaches. In addition, industry representatives emphasized growing pressure to diversify supply chains, reduce critical dependencies, and adapt to a more fragmented global economy.
Key takeaways included:
• Broad transatlantic alignment on addressing systemic risks and strategic dependencies;
• Continued divergence in policy tools and implementation approaches;
• Growing recognition that resilience, predictability, and coordination will be critical for future economic cooperation.
