Geoeconomics and the Strategic Significance of Semiconductors: Insights from Kazuto Suzuki

Since taking office, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of reciprocal tariffs marked the beginning of intensified geopolitical and economic tensions globally. Semiconductors and rare earth minerals became key bargaining chips in the confrontation between the U.S. and China. As we approach the complex political and economic landscape of 2025, the shift from “cooperative economy” to “strategic economy” becomes increasingly evident. Traditional geopolitical and economic analysis frameworks struggle to fully capture this complexity, highlighting the rising importance of Geoeconomics as a strategic lens in international relations.

Kazuto Suzuki, Professor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Public Policy and Director of the Geoeconomics Research Institute (IOG), exemplifies the intellectual leadership required in this transformative era. Suzuki is renowned for his extensive research and practical policy experience in economic security, sanction policies, and space security, notably as a former member of the UN Security Council’s Iran Sanctions Committee and Chair of Japan’s Space Security Subcommittee.

Suzuki earned his PhD in Contemporary European Studies from the University of Sussex, UK. His research spans international political economy…