An abstract graphic of rounded lines forming a circle on a dark blue background. The lines are pink and blend into purple in an ombre circle, with just a portion of the circle showing on the screen. The graphic signifies the design of The Milken Institute's Global Conference 2025, an annual forum that brings together leaders from business, finance, and other fields to discuss economic and social issues.
Global Conference 2025

Balancing Strategic Competitiveness and Shared Prosperity

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Behind the headline-grabbing tariffs in recent months lies the reality that global trade patterns have been under pressure for many years. The disruption from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China-US geopolitical tensions, and emerging economies in the global south have all contributed to alterations in existing trade patterns. In parallel, intensification of automation and AI-driven manufacturing, as well as the disconnecting effects of shifting supply chains, have complicated the political-economic environment in which businesses, investors, and households evaluate decisions. Policymakers, particularly those responsive to discontent electorates, have struggled to adapt to the ongoing rebalance of trade patterns. The recent U.S. tariff announcements, a maximalist response to these challenges, have introduced a heighted level of uncertainty on top of these longer-term challenges. How can trade policies be calibrated to achieve desired outcomes while also providing a greater degree of certainty for stakeholders? This conversation will focus on navigating these tensions, the current tariff-related uncertainty, and building a path forward to more sustainable and resilient supply chains. 

    Moderator

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    Karen Kornbluh

    Senior Advisor, Emerging Technology, Milken Institute

    Speakers

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    Anindya Novyan Bakrie

    Chairman, Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Indonesia); CEO Bakrie & Brothers
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    Diana Choyleva

    Founder and Chief Economist, Enodo Economics
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    Eddie Fishman

    Author, "Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare"; Senior Research Scholar, Columbia University CGEP
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    Simon Johnson

    Professor of Entrepreneurship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Recipient, Nobel Prize in Economics