Ana Swanson

I cover trade and international economics for The New York Times. I’m based in Washington, D.C.

What I Cover

I write about the economic relationships between the United States and other countries, particularly the goods and services that go back and forth across borders. A lot of my work focuses on the U.S. relationship with China, which is both an important trading partner and a growing rival. That includes the restrictions the United States has imposed on sending advanced technology to China, as well as trade-related sanctions on Russia and other countries. I’m also covering U.S. efforts to better compete with China by investing in the domestic semiconductor and clean energy industries. I write about American trade relationships with other countries as well, like Europe and Mexico.

My Background

I have been reporting on economics, trade and international relations for over a decade, from both China and the U.S.

Before coming to The Times, I covered the economy, trade and the Federal Reserve for The Washington Post. I was also previously an editor of Foreign Policy’s South Asia Channel, a news site focused on policy analysis of the region, and the editor in chief of China Economic Review magazine. I’m a regular contributor to American Public Media’s Marketplace and have appeared on CNN, MSNBC, PBS NewsHour and elsewhere.

I earned a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from Northwestern University and a master’s in international relations with a focus on China and international economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington. I was born and raised in a small town in Iowa. Before coming to Washington, I spent eight years living and working in China, where I learned Mandarin Chinese.

Journalistic Ethics

As a Times journalist, I adhere to the company’s strict standards of integrity. I strive to make every sentence in every article accurate. If there is an error, I work to make sure it is quickly corrected. I also try to present a diversity of views, but I see it as my role to ultimately uncover and highlight the truth as best as I can ascertain it. I aim to underpin my work with data and numbers, as well as give voice to the personal stories of people I encounter in my reporting. I protect my sources. I do not directly trade individual stocks, make political donations or accept compensation of any kind from interest groups. When I am working, I always identify myself as a reporter for The Times.

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