It’s been another consequential week for China’s economy and foreign policy – with Beijing deploying its blocking rules for the first time ever in response to new US sanctions tied to Iranian oil purchases.

On the first half of this week’s Trivium China Podcast, host Andrew Polk is joined by Trivium’s Head of Supply Chain and Critical Minerals Research Cory Combs to unpack what China’s latest legal and regulatory moves mean for the future of US-China economic competition and sanctions enforcement.

The two discuss:

• China’s first-ever use of its blocking rules
• Why Beijing reacted so strongly to new US sanctions on Chinese refiners
• The growing risks facing banks and firms caught between US and Chinese legal systems
• How China’s broader counter-sanctions toolkit is evolving
• Why uncertainty itself may be part of Beijing’s strategy

Then in the second half of the pod, Andrew is joined by Trivium’s Head of Markets Research Dinny McMahon and Lead Macro Analyst Joe Peissel to break down the latest signals from China’s economy following a surprisingly strong Q1.

The three discuss:

• Why China’s economy outperformed expectations early in the year
• How the Iran war is affecting inflation, exports, and industrial costs
• Beijing’s renewed push on infrastructure investment
• Why consumption remains the economy’s weakest link
• Whether China’s export machine can continue powering growth through the rest of 2026

Together, the conversations offer a timely look at how Beijing is navigating mounting geopolitical pressure while trying to keep the economy on track.