The Unwelcoming States of America - The Economist

Aug 29, 2026

This issue surveys how American domestic choices reshape power, migration policy, and economic outcomes while testing alliances and trade relationships. It examines deportation and immigration enforcement, the effect of zero net migration, and the political economy behind policy decisions. Coverage also addresses Canada’s stance in a trade-war threat, China–U.S. legal spillovers for multinationals, investor and bond-market episodes, and major geopolitical, business, culture, and technology topics reported across the week.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages76

Reading Time3 h 12 min

AccessFree to download

Leaders

The Unwelcoming States of America

Canada and America

Blood and Treasuries

America and Iran

A Sino-American tug-of-law

The world's most famous bookshop

Briefing

America’s deportation machine

Britain

The Americas

Asia

China

Culture

Business

Economic & financial indicators

Obituary

TheEconomist The Unwelcoming States of America ORTHODOXCREATESPARADOX. In an ever-changing world,accepted wisdommight not be enough to get you there.That's whywe embrace new thinking,give straight answersand take bold action.To give our clients new andbetter ways of reaching their goals. We find our edgeat the edge of what's possible. Mshcon de Reya It's business.But it's personal. Business|Disputes |Innovation |Private |Real Estate Contents On the cover By trying to change itsdemographic trajectory,DonaldTrump will make America weaker:leader,page 7.His deportationmachine is now quieter,but moreeffective:briefing,page 14.Whatwill his high-tech border wallachieve?Page 30.The economicconsequences of zero netmigration,page 60 Bessent's bond-market misadventures America willregret the treasury secretary'smarket meddling:leader,page 8.He is also making trouble for theFed,page 57 Carney v Trump Canada'sprime minister must defuse atrade war not of his making:leader,page 8,and analysis,page 36 A Sino-American tug-of-law Obeying an American law canmean breaking a Chinese one.Multinationals beware:leader,page 10.Like America,Chinawants its laws to applyeverywhere,page 43 The world's most famousbookshop Shakespeare andCompany is turning 75.Is itssuccess replicable?Page 68 →Download The Economist'sapp for articles,podcasts,videos and more,publishedthroughout the week. 5 A summary of politicaland business news Leaders 7 The Unwelcoming Statesof AmericaKeep out 8 Canada and AmericaAvoiding a trade war8 Uncle Sam's debtsBlood and Treasuries9 America and IranDamp squib or cunningretreat?10 ASino-Americantug-of-lawTwo long arms 12 On Daron Acemoglu,aresponse to ProfessorAcemoglu,safetywarnings in China,fengshui 13 Ciaran Martin on theexaggerated cyber-threatfrom AI Briefing 14 America's deportation machine Donald Trump's war on immigrants CharlemagneGallivanting EUpoliticians reveal wherepower really lies inEurope,page 21 17 Meloni goes the distance18 Black Sea grain wars19 Surprise solar champion19 Booze battles20 Snowless Alps 21 Charlemagne Grand Tourredux Britain 22 The lure of factories23 Steelyard blues24 Harry and Meghan25 Bagehot Wanted:betterbillionaires 26 America's threats andIran's defiance27 The fearsome Houthis28 Africa's tycoons29 Ant-smuggling 30 The border wall32 Trump's naval obsession32 Reviving factory work33 Crustaceans and tariffs35 Lexington The politicsof Ohio The Americas 36 Carney's contradiction37 America in Panama38 Chile's mummy problem Contents Asia 39 Australia's Pacific pals40 AI and Asian governments41 The BJP in West Bengal41 Disaster in Nepaland Tibet42 Ashoka High-rises inIndia 57 Bessent v bond markets58 Russia weakens the rouble59 An Indian bank subsidy60 China's contrarian squeeze60 Deportation economics62 Buttonwood What makesa great investor?63 Free Exchange Tax breaksfor charity China 43 The state's long arm44 Film-going frenzy46 Chaguan Women's woesat work 64 Swamplands oftheuniverses 65 Salmon and the ice age66 SpaceX's giant spaceport67 Ukraine's war balloons67 Well Informed Avaccinefor cancer? 47 Religion vAI49 The Telegram Trump'svengeance Culture 68 The world's mostfamous bookshop69 Wile E.Coyote70 Back Story Death lessons71 Loving Dolly Parton71 The Philippines and tennis72 World in a dish THCdrinks Business 50 China's robot training51 Shein's fall52 Bartleby The powerof agency 53 In defence of big business53 Meta settles in court54 America's pretzel belt55 Schumpeter Apollo'ssuccession Economic &financial indicators73 Statistics on 42economies Obituary 74 Frank Smith,possibly the longest-serving prisoner inAmerican history Subscriptionservice To manage your account online,please visitmyeconomist.com where you can also accessour live chatservice which isavailable 24/7To call us,contact our dedicated service centreon+44(0)2038686843. Volume 460 Number 9514 For our fullrange of subsc

FAQs

What main political theme does this issue highlight about the United States?

It focuses on how demographic and immigration policies under Donald Trump are framed as weakening America, alongside the wider consequences for governance and society.

Which international relationship is examined in the leaders section alongside U.S. policy?

Canada–U.S. relations are discussed through the lens of avoiding a trade war, including political and economic tensions following rejected trade proposals.

What economic topics are covered beyond politics?

The issue includes analysis of bond-market behavior tied to the treasury secretary’s actions, the economic consequences of zero net migration, and broader financial and statistical indicators across multiple economies.

Aug 29, 2026

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