International trade used to be a subject reserved for farmers and exporters. Most of us rarely thought about it as long as the cars kept coming and the shelves were stocked at the supermarket. The system seemed to work. But recent years have shown how quickly tariffs, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions can affect prices, jobs, KiwiSaver balances and economic security. Dr Chad Bown, former chief economist at the U.S. State Department under President Biden, says trade is no longer just about imports and exports, it's about who gets to shape the future. Together with Financial Times columnist Soumaya Keynes, he's co-written a book in layman's terms about modern trade called How to Win a Trade War: An Optimistic Guide to an Anxious Global Economy.