Convene, Hamilton Square600 14th Street NWWashington DC

Register now for an important policy conference on what U.S. policymakers must do to prevent America from suffering a catastrophic defeat in its techno-economic-trade war with China.

At stake are vital production capabilities in the advanced, traded-sector industries that provide the foundation for economic strength and national security in the 21st century.

Background

The United States is at grave risk of losing global leadership to China in a strategically vital group of advanced, traded-sector industries that provide the foundation for economic strength and national security in the 21st century. ITIF calls them “national power industries.” China’s coordinated long-term campaign to dominate these industries is not a normal economic competition; it is nothing short of techno-economic-trade war—and avoiding catastrophic defeat for America and its allies in the West will require policymakers in Washington to make fundamental policy changes.

This conference will air the findings of a year-long research effort that ITIF’s Hamilton Center on Industrial Policy is conducting with support from the Smith Richardson Foundation.

Leading up to the conference, ITIF will publish a series of reports throughout 2026 examining China’s mercantilist predation in national power industries; assessing the impact of China’s predation on U.S. technological leadership, economic strength, and national security; and providing a comprehensive agenda for policymakers to prevent America from losing the advanced production capabilities it needs to remain a global power and suffering an inexorable decline while China rises to global hegemony.

The following agenda is subject to change. Speakers to be announced.

Agenda

8:30–9:00 AM: Registration & Coffee

9:00–9:30 AM: Welcome and Introduction: Dr. Robert D. Atkinson, Senior Fellow, ITIF

Part 1: The Threat Landscape

9:30 – 10:00 AM: What Has China Built? The New Techno-Industrial State

10:00 – 11:10 AM: Over-the-Horizon Attacks

11:10 AM - 11:25 AM: Break

Part 2: The Political Challenge for Washington

11:25 AM - 12:15 PM: Why So Little Embrace of National Economic Power Capitalism?

12:10 - 12:20 PM: Lunch Break

12:20 - 1:30 PM: Lunch Discussion: Building Momentum for a Comprehensive Response

Part 3: What A Response Looks Like

1:30 - 2:00 PM: From Financial Capitalism to National Economic Power Capitalism

2:00 – 2:30 PM: From Free Trade to Strategic Economic Partnerships

2:30 – 2:45 PM: Break

2:45 – 3:10 PM: An Institutional Framework for a National Techno-Economic and Trade Policy

3:10 – 3:45 PM: 1948 Redux: Crafting the National Techno-Economic War Establishment

3:45 - 4:00 PM: Closing Remarks

4:00 PM: Adjourn