Chatham House

Experts discuss how shifts in US tariff policies under the Trump administration are impacting MENA economies.Drastic changes in US tariff policy under the Trump administration have had far reaching effects across the world, causing market turmoil and reshaping trade relationships. While primarily targeting major economies such as China and the EU, Trump’s economic policies are exerting indirect pressures on Middle East and North Africa (MENA) economies.Shifts in trade, tariffs, and energy strategy pose significant challenges for states across the region. Oil-exporters, such as Gulf states and Iraq, face low oil prices and falling profits. Meanwhile, others, such as Egypt, Jordan and Morocco, are impacted by higher import costs, inflationary pressures, and the potential disruption of exports and trade.In this webinar, experts will discuss topics including:• What is the likelihood that some of the weaker states in the MENA region might need external financial support to avoid default?• How will lower oil prices impact Saudi Arabia’s political role in the region?• How will economic reform efforts be affected by a more hostile global environment, and how can the quality of these efforts be assessed?Speakers: David Lubin, Michael Klein Senior Research Fellow, Global Economy and Finance Programme; David Butter, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme; Ziad Daoud, Chief Emerging Markets Economist, Bloomberg Economics.