Geoeconomics and U.S. Partnerships in East Asia: Supply Chain Resilience, Trade Strategy, and Opportunities for the American Southeast
The global economic order is undergoing a dramatic shift as supply chain resilience moves to the center of U.S. national security. To counter foreign dominance in critical minerals, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing, Washington is deploying geoeconomic tools—from targeted tariffs to major investment frameworks with key allies like Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. However, executing this strategy introduces complex real-world challenges, highlighted by recent labor and supply chain friction right here in Georgia. Successfully securing these vital industries requires new frameworks that align global alliance goals with local workforce and economic realities.
The American Southeast sits at the exact intersection of these trends. With its expanding industrial footprint, world-class port infrastructure, and major investments in battery and automotive manufacturing, the region is uniquely positioned to drive U.S.–East Asia supply chain integration. This symposium brings together international diplomats, policy experts, and regional leaders to examine how Washington, its Indo-Pacific partners, and the Southeast can collaborate to advance economic security and technological leadership.
Keynote Speaker
A framing perspective on how geoeconomics and strategic supply chain resilience are reshaping U.S. foreign policy and Indo-Pacific security.
- Patrick Cronin (Asia-Pacific Security Chair, Hudson Institute)
Expert Panel: East Asian Perspectives on the New Geoeconomic Landscape
Practitioners from Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea share ground-level insights on semiconductor integration, rare earth supply chain models, and balancing commercial ties with alliance commitments.
- Taiwan: Roy Chun Lee (Associate Research Fellow, Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research)
- Japan: Kazuto Suzuki (Professor, University of Tokyo; Director, Institute of Geoeconomics)
- South Korea: Seong-Hyon Lee (Senior Fellow, George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations)
Luncheon Address: Taiwan’s Strategic Partnership with the United States
Ambassador Yui offers key diplomatic perspectives on the evolving U.S.–Taiwan bilateral economic partnership and cross-Pacific supply chain architecture.
- Ambassador Alexander Tah-ray Yui (Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States)
Roundtable: Opportunities for U.S.-East Asia Partnerships and the Southeast United States
Regional leaders discuss how the Southeast can leverage its ports, advanced manufacturing footprint, and foreign direct investment to support allied supply chain resilience.
- Jared Lin (Director General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta)
- Stefan A. Harrigan (Senior Manager, Global Business Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber)
- Japan & South Korea Representatives: TBA