Chief Economist

(a) Establishment There is authorized to be in the Department a Chief Economist who shall be responsible to the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs for matters pertaining to analyzing and forecasting the impact of economic trends on diplomatic functions and national security priorities, and such other related duties as the Secretary may from time to time designate. (b) Responsibilities In addition to the responsibilities described under subsection (a), the Chief Economist shall provide research and analysis to inform the Department’s strategy for deploying international economic policy to strengthen alliances, deter malign foreign actors, and reduce dependencies on strategic rivals in the conduct of foreign policy, including, as appropriate, the following: (1) Providing research and analysis to inform the development of the Department’s strategy for deploying foreign policy to ensure supply chain resilience, secure access to raw materials and critical minerals, and maximize international market access. (2) Providing analysis of complex, emerging geoeconomic issues and offer advice to Department leadership on economic diplomacy challenges. (3) Conducting research and rigorous, data-driven analysis of high priority issues at the intersection of economics and foreign policy to inform decision-making and diplomatic engagements by senior Department officials. (4) Maintaining analytical products for the Department on international economic issues, including on sanctions evasion and the vulnerabilities of the United States and its partners to economic coercion, as well as the economic opportunities for United States businesses. (5) Contributing to the expansion of the economic expertise of the Department through collaboration with the Foreign Service Institute, the academic community, international organizations, and other Federal departments and agencies the Chief Economist determines necessary. (6) Serving as a liaison to technical experts in economics and related fields in partner governments, international institutions, and elsewhere in the United States government and academic community. (7) Performing such other duties as the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs may from time to time designate. (c) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, and every two years for the subsequent four years, the Chief Economist shall transmit to Congress a report on the international economic strategy of the United States and its analytical basis. In preparing the report, the Chief Economist shall coordinate input and analysis from other bureaus within the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs.