Edward Fishman: How to Fight an Economic War
Edward Fishman on how to fight an economic war.
It has been an extraordinary year in American economic statecraft and economic warfare. When today’s guest last appeared on the show, it was April 2025. We spoke just days after Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs had thrown global markets into chaos. At the time, much of the conversation about economic warfare was speculation about what Trump might do. A year later, we know what Trump’s economic warfare looks like in practice—and it’s not a pretty picture.
This episode features returning guest Edward Fishman. Since his last appearance on the podcast, Eddie has taken up a new position at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he is Senior Fellow and Director of the new Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomics. The conversation will unpack Eddie’s new Foreign Affairs essay titled “How to Fight an Economic War: A Field Manual for a Ruptured World.”
The Sanctions Age is hosted by Esfandyar Batmanghelidj and Josefine Petrick.
Edward Fishman is one of the world’s foremost experts on economic statecraft, with deep experience shaping U.S. foreign policy. His New York Times–bestselling book Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare is widely regarded as definitive and essential to understand how sanctions, tariffs, and export controls are reshaping the world. A Columbia University scholar, he brings sharp, timely insights into how economic warfare is transforming geopolitics and the business landscape. His ability to translate complex global dynamics into compelling narratives makes him a standout keynote speaker for any audience. Contact us today to learn more.