As 2019 begins, the American economy is in an enviable position, but its government is shut down. President Trump continues to have the strong backing of his party, but the outcome of the Mueller investigation and a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives threatens to upend that support, as well as his legislative agenda.
Experts from the United States Studies Centre gave a briefing on what's sure to be a frenetic year ahead in US politics: What will be the priorities for the Trump administration in 2019 and what will be the impact on international allies and business? Who will lead the Democratic pack in the race for the White House in 2020? What can we expect from the recently confirmed US ambassador to Australia? Our expert panellists offer their perspectives on what to expect this year in US politics, foreign policy, technology, and trade.
The panel discussion was moderated by The Wall Street Journal's Australia/New Zealand Bureau Chief David Winning and featured USSC Senior fellow and former advisor to US Secretary of State John Kerry, Dr Charles Edel; Director of the USSC Trade & Investment Program DrStephen Kirchner; Director of the USSC Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program Claire McFarland; and non-resident senior fellow Dr Elsina Wainwright, AM.
Australia/New Zealand Bureau Chief David Winning, The Wall Street Journal
David Winning is the Bureau Chief of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires in Australia and New Zealand, responsible for editorial coverage across all asset classes. The WSJ has 14 reporters and editors in Australia working from bureaus in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.
Dr Charles Edel
Australia Chair and Senior Adviser, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Dr Charles Edel is the inaugural Australia Chair and a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He was previously a Senior Fellow at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. Prior to this, he was Associate Professor of Strategy and Policy at the US Naval War College, and served on the US Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff from 2015-2017. In that role, he advised Secretary of State John Kerry on political and security issues in the Asia-Pacific region.
Dr Stephen Kirchner
Dr Stephen Kirchner was Director of the International Economy Program at the United States Studies Centre until April 2022. He is a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute in Canada, where he has contributed to research projects comparing public policies in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Previously, he was an economist with the Australian Financial Markets Association, where he worked on public policy issues relating to the efficient and effective functioning of Australian financial markets and Australia’s position as a regional and international financial centre.
Claire McFarland
Claire McFarland was previously the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program Director at the United States Studies Centre.
Dr Elsina Wainwright, AM
Elsina Wainwright was previously a Non-Resident Senior Fellow of the United States Studies Centre's Foreign Policy and Defence Program.
