In this Special Edition ahead of the 5 November US election, we consider how the next US administration under former president Donald Trump, or current Vice President Kamala Harris, is likely to navigate key policy issues. We consider both candidates’ often-opposing approaches to monetary policy, immigration, and foreign policy, and examine the potential implications of their respective strategies further afield in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
The politics of money: US monetary policy direction in 2025 and its global ripple effect
The US election campaign has reignited public discourse about the relationship between the US president and the Federal Reserve. Although the future president is unlikely to be able to directly influence the Fed's decision-making, their economic policies can have an indirect effect on the Fed loosening or tightening interest rates. The impact will be felt not only in the US, but also in emerging economies in Africa. Read the article
Putting up walls: Stricter US immigration policy and the impact on Latin America
As US voters and politicians on both sides of the Democrat-Republican divide urge measures to address migration from Latin America, both Harris and Trump are set to adopt a more stringent approach to managing immigration and border security. However, the potential impact of their respective immigration policies on the region’s socio-economic and security landscape may pose challenges for Latin American governments already facing instability. Read the article
Contrasting strategies: Defining Trump and Harris’s Middle East policy
As the Israel-Palestine war continues to draw in more regional players like Lebanon and Iran, the next US president faces a geopolitical crisis that will present a challenge for crafting the country’s Middle East strategy. Harris’s and Trump have maintained their support for Israel, but have significantly diverging ideas around how the US should engage its regional allies and adversaries. Read the article
