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The Transatlantic Economy in 2026

Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 13:00 - 17:00 CET

Present Uncertainties and Future Strategy

Since the signing of the United States-European Union bilateral trade deal on July 27, 2025, two key issues are emerging that will determine the short- and long-term health of the transatlantic economic relationship.

First, how will German and EU approaches to economic security—including trade, export controls, investment screening, critical minerals, and innovation policies—evolve in the coming year, and will they offer a platform for joint efforts with the United States, especially as regards China and its manufacturing and technology challenges?

Second, it has been clear for at least ten years that the global trading system needs updating. How can the United States, Germany, the EU, and other key economies work together to reform existing institutions and to create new ones to address national security, industrial policy, supply chains, energy and climate challenges, and technologies like artificial intelligence that also respond to domestic political dynamics?

Confirmed Panelists

Brian Egan, Partner, National Security; CFIUS; International Trade, Skadden

Gabriel Felbermayr, Director, Austrian Institute for Economic Research

Christian Forwick, Deputy Director-General, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Matthias Krämer, Head External Economic Policy, Federation of German Industries/BDI

David Metzner, Managing Partner, ACG Analytics

Markus Pflitsch, CEO and Founder, Terra Quantum

Bryant Trick, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East

Laura von Daniels, Senior Research Fellow, Americas Research Unit, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)

Just two days ahead of the Munich Security Conference, the AGI Frankfurt Symposium will provide a timely and high-level opportunity to examine both the frictions and opportunities in the transatlantic economic relationship as well as future strategies to reshape the global trading system in a way that better advances their joint interests and prosperity.

This event is invitation only. Please contact AGI Program Associate Mr. Jack Fornasiero at jfornasiero@aicgs.org with any questions.

  • 1:00pm
    Welcome
    Holger Schmieding, Chief Economist, Berenberg Bank
    Jeff Rathke, President, AGI
  • 1:15 - 2:30pm
    Session I: Economic Security and Economic Competitiveness
    Brian Egan, Partner, National Security; CFIUS; International Trade, Skadden
    Christian Forwick, Deputy Director-General, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
    Markus Pflitsch, CEO and Founder, Terra Quantum
    Bryant Trick, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East
    Laura von Daniels, Senior Research Fellow, Americas Research Unit, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
    Moderator: Peter Rashish, Vice President and Director of the Geoeconomics Program, AGI
  • 2:30 - 2:45pm
    Coffee Break
  • 2:45 - 3:55pm
    Session II: The Political Economy of the Next Global Trading System
    Gabriel Felbermayr, Director, Austrian Institute for Economic Research
    Matthias Krämer, Head External Economic Policy, Federation of German Industries/BDI
    David Metzner, Managing Partner, ACG Analytics
    Moderator: Lisandra Flach, Director, Center for International Economics, Ifo Institute
  • 3:55pm
    Closing Remarks
    Jeff Rathke, President, AGI
  • 4:00 - 5:00pm
    Reception
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