WTC 2026 Geopolitical Update | launch second edition of GATRI
Geopolitical risks are reshaping the global business environment, affecting trade, investment, and supply chain resilience. On 8 June, HCSS joins the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) and the World Trade Center Netherlands Alliance for the 2026 Geopolitical Update, a virtual briefing on the geopolitical, economic, and trade dynamics shaping the year ahead. During the event, HCSS will also launch the second edition of the Geopolitical Annual Trade Risk Index (GATRI), providing data-driven insights into geopolitical stability and international trade.
HCSS at GLOBSEC | Europe’s Pivot: Converting Economic Weight into Geopolitical Clout
On Friday, 22 May, HCSS strategic analysts Irina Patrahau and Benedetta Girardi will co-host the GLOBSEC Forum 2026 side session ‘Europe’s Pivot: Converting Economic Weight into Geopolitical Clout’. The discussion will examine how the EU can strengthen its geoeconomic statecraft amid rising systemic competition, economic coercion, and supply chain vulnerabilities. Particular attention will be given to balancing economic security with market openness, managing escalation risks, and enhancing the credibility of Europe’s geopolitical influence in an increasingly fragmented international environment.
Expert Analysis | The ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs were supposed to revive US manufacturing. So far they have not.
One year after Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, the hoped-for revival of US manufacturing has yet to materialize, write Geoffroy Feij and Ron Stoop. Investment, construction spending, and employment all fell between April and December 2025, while production growth remained marginal. High tariffs on imports – many of which are essential intermediate goods – have raised costs for American companies without boosting output. Combined with labour shortages and policy uncertainty, these measures highlight the limits of broad import tariffs as a tool for re-industrialisation and offer cautionary lessons for Europe.
