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This trade agenda could result in lasting harm to the world’s poorest countries while providing no discernible benefit to the US. Here's a more practical and effective approach.

There remains a lot of uncertainty regarding the status (and legality) of USAID award and staff terminations to date, and even more around the administration’s reorganization plans. But assume things work out as the administration hopes: USAID staff are all fired and the agency is shut down by the e...

In a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign aid policy, the Trump administration eliminated approximately 83 percent of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s programs, with 37 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) particularly affected. According to a recent CGD blog, these countries are consid...

The Trump administration’s actions related to development policy are rooted in the “America First” doctrine. Their approach is not in line with internationally agreed objectives but narrowly aligned with perceived national interests. We take a step back to examine the underlying principles that appe...

It would be better for the US and global economy if the new tariffs were rolled back everywhere. But it would at least help continue the journey to self-reliance through greater potential for export-led growth if the poorest countries, economies that are utterly marginal to the US trade deficit and ...

The temptation to merge aid agencies in the hopes of creating cost efficiencies is understandable. But instead of the plan being floated, it would be much better to create a strong link between DFC and MCC where there are potential synergies and make changes to MCC’s finance model that create return...

Yesterday, President Trump announced a sweeping change to US trade policy, imposing tariffs larger than those enacted under the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act that helped deepen the Great Depression. US markets are responding based on the implications for US business and consumers. But the consequences for...

The tariff regime announced yesterday by President Trump sent shockwaves through the global financial system. It will up-end countless longstanding commercial relationships, profoundly distort markets and significantly slow growth. Among the unpleasant surprises was the disproportionate impact on th...

On Friday, the administration sent a memo on the future of USAID to the agency’s staff. It makes clear that the strategy continues to be “cut and reorganize first, ask permission later”—putting forward a vision for the full abolition of USAID. Regarding reorganization, remaining USAID staff have re...

As the USAID cuts shutter projects worldwide, Chinese officials are certainly making the most of the opportunity. The country has stepped in to fund child literacy, nutrition, and landmine clearance programs in Cambodia previously backed by the US and has made overtures to Nepal and Colombia about f...