Globalisation promised a world of open markets, shared prosperity and peace through trade. Instead, it has delivered a new battle for wealth and power.

In All the Money in the World , The Times Economics Editor Mehreen Khan argues that mercantilism – the centuries-old belief that economic strength is the foundation of national power – is back. Trade is no longer just about efficiency or cheap goods. It is about dominance. It is about who makes the world’s products, controls its resources, owns its technology, and sets the terms for everyone else.

From China’s record trade surpluses to Donald Trump’s tariffs, from Europe’s industrial anxiety to the race for chips, batteries and critical minerals, economics has become a frontline of great power conflict. Governments are no longer simply competing in the global market; they are trying to rig it in their favour.

With deep insight, authority and historical sweep, Khan reveals how the world has moved from the triumph of free trade to the return of protectionism, economic coercion and geopolitical rivalry. She shows why trade imbalances matter, how dependency becomes a weapon and why the comforting certainties of the neoliberal age are breaking down.

Urgent and eye-opening, All the Money in the World is an essential guide to the new era of economic warfare.