The Flint Podcast

As COP30 in Brazil approaches, Flint experts unpack what this pivotal summit means for global climate action and international business.

In this episode, our panel explores the key themes and initiatives shaping COP30 — from the next round of national emissions targets (NDCs) to the implications for global investment, carbon markets, climate finance, and sustainable infrastructure. They discuss how governments and businesses are positioning themselves ten years on from the Paris Agreement, and what to expect from negotiations in Belém.

Flint Partner Katie Whitting chairs a discussion with Virginia Sentance MBE, Flint Director leading our UK climate and sustainability offer and former senior official in the UK’s COP26 Presidency team; Fiona Wright, Flint Partner and former senior adviser at HM Treasury, the European Commission and the U.S. Senate; and Dr Lisa Ross, Flint Director for Asia-Pacific, expert in sustainable finance and regulatory policy.

As the Labour Party Conference 2025 draws to a close, Flint experts unpack the key announcements from the Prime Minister, Chancellor and wider Cabinet. 

In this episode, our panel explores Labour's policy programme, its strategic direction ahead of the next Budget, the Deputy Leadership race, and the implications for the UK business environment. 

Flint Director Anna Abela chairs a discussion with Specialist Partner Rav Athwal, Former Economic Adviser to Keir Starmer and author of Labour's 2024 manifesto, Specialist Partner Siôn Simon, a former Labour MP, MEP, Metro Mayor candidate and minister in the last Labour government and Joe Jones, Flint Partner in Global Markets and Investor Advisory Practice. 

President Trump has followed through on the trade agenda he laid out at the start of his term, seeking to “rebalance” global trade in favour of the United States. On 7 August, a global regime of reciprocal tariffs came into force, marking a dramatic shift in the trade landscape. Alongside this, the administration has imposed targeted tariffs on autos and auto parts, copper, steel and aluminium, with more sectors including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and critical minerals, now in its sights.

The result has been a sharp rise in the average effective tariff rate, signalling major changes for businesses operating across international markets.

In this podcast, Associate Director Kathryn Watson chairs a discussion with Sam Lowe, Partner and Head of Flint’s Trade and Market Access practice, Katie Whitting, Flint Partner and former Australian diplomat and Thomas Barros-Tastets, Flint's Managing Partner Europe, with extensive experience in trade dispute cases as they unpack the shifting US tariff landscape and what it means for businesses navigating global supply chains. 

France faces a new phase of political uncertainty and instability as President Macron’s government, led by François Bayrou, loses a vote of no confidence, paving the way for Sébastien Lecornu’s new appointment as Prime Minister.

In this podcast, Director François-Joseph Schichan chairs a discussion with Anne-Juliette Rohrbach, Partner & Managing Director, Flint France, David Wright, Specialist Partner at Flint; former Deputy Director-General, DG FISMA (European Commission) and Benoît Roussel, Brussels-based Partner to discuss what Lecornu’s appointment means for politics, business and Europe. 

Following a tumultuous week in British politics, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has initiated a major reshuffle of his cabinet, a move accelerated by the resignation of his Deputy, Angela Rayner. This reshuffle has resulted in new appointments into several high-profile ministerial roles, including the Foreign Office and Home Office, setting the stage for a recalibration of government priorities and political strategy.

With the political landscape evolving, these changes are expected to have a significant influence on policy direction and the government's ability to deliver its agenda.  What are the implications for businesses and how might key sectors be affected? 

In this podcast, Flint Partner Katie Wake hosts a discussion on the recent UK Cabinet reshuffle, with insights from Sam White, Specialist Partner at Flint and former Chief of Staff to Sir Keir Starmer, in conversation with Rav Athwal, Specialist Partner at Flint and former Economic Adviser to Sir Keir Starmer and author of Labour's 2024 manifesto. 

Our experts unpack the recent reshuffle — what it reveals about the government’s strategy, the policy areas most likely to be affected, and the implications for business. They consider whether fundamental change is on the horizon and how organisations can best navigate the new ministerial landscape.

Against the backdrop of continued geopolitical uncertainty and instability, the European Commission has outlined a set of ambitious horizontal priorities aimed at enhancing the EU’s economic resilience and competitiveness. From the evolving European economic outlook to the ongoing work on the Savings and Investment and Banking Unions, the new institutional cycle is expected to tackle several critical, long-standing and politically thorny economic and financial issues. This includes a central focus on regulatory simplification, reinforcement of the Single Market, ramping up defence expenditure, as well as managing the multitude of pressures and demands on the EU budget at a time of serious fiscal constraints for a majority of EU Member States. 

This podcast features a conversation between David Wright, Senior Adviser to Flint and Chair of Eurofi, and former Deputy Director General for Financial Services at the European Commission, in conversation with Michael Hager, Head of Cabinet for Commissioner Dombrovskis, who is in charge of Economy and Productivity, Implementation, and Simplification.

On 6 May, Friedrich Merz was formally elected Chancellor by the German Bundestag. Merz and his government will take office at a critical moment for Germany and for Europe.

Our experts consider the implications for business of the choices confronting Friedrich Merz’s first cabinet. The challenges that Merz and his top team face are marked by economic difficulties, geopolitical uncertainties, declining competitiveness, and an urgent need for investment to drive growth.

Rebuilding Germany’s leadership in Europe, notably by improving ties with France and with the UK, will also be a key objective of the new government to respond collectively to the Trump challenge as well as the Russia threat.

In this podcast, Flint Director Anna Abela hosts a discussion on the new German government with:

• Andreas Krautscheid, Senior Adviser, a former CDU Member of the Bundestag and Minister of State in North-Rhine Westphalia, and CEO of the German Banking Association. 
• Markus Becker-Melching, Senior Adviser, former COO of the German Banking Association and member of the Executive Committee of the European Banking Federation. 
• François-Joseph Schichan, Director, former French diplomat including former head of Political Department at the French Embassy in London.

On Wednesday, 2 April, President Trump announced a baseline tariff of 10% on all US imports with specific tariffs for individual markets. Some of the highest rates were imposed on Asian jurisdictions. Countries across APAC have responded in a variety of ways: China has imposed retaliatory tariffs, Vietnam has offered to remove all tariffs, and a number of others, such as Japan, India and South Korea, are looking to start discussions with the US.

This podcast discusses the latest tariff developments, the response from Asian jurisdictions, the implications for businesses and what comes next.

 Flint Partner Katie Whitting hosts the discussion with:   

• Flint Partner and Head of Flint’s Trade and Market Access Practice, Sam Lowe
• Flint Senior Adviser and former Executive Director of the Singapore-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), James Crabtree
• Flint Senior Adviser and former Economic Director at the Malaysian Prime Minister's Office, Shahril Hamdan

On Wednesday, 26 March, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, delivered her Spring Statement. What she originally hoped would be a low-key statement has taken on much greater significance as downgrades to economic forecasts test the Government’s ‘non-negotiable’ fiscal rules.

In this podcast, our experts discuss the decisions the Chancellor has made and consider the implications these choices will have for businesses – covering its impacts on the Government’s growth and public service ambitions, and what it could mean for the forthcoming Industrial Strategy and Spending Review.  

Flint Partner Jon Sell will host a discussion on the economic and political implications of the Spring Statement between:   

• Flint Special Partner and former Permanent Secretary, Dame Sue Owen  
• Flint Specialist Partner and former senior executive at the UK’s Office for Budget Responsibility,  Andy King
• Flint Specialist Partner and former adviser to the Chancellor, Ian Corfield

In this podcast, our experts assess the results of the German federal elections held on Sunday, 23 February.

The new government faces considerable domestic headwinds, with a challenging economic outlook, waning international competitiveness, and significant investment needed to stimulate growth. Our experts discuss how the new government might tackle these challenges and the outlook for the business environment in Germany. On the international stage, we will also explore what a new government means for Germany’s foreign and defence policy, its position in the EU, and its relationship with the new Trump administration. Finally, we will set out what comes next after the elections, from the process of coalition building to the formation of a new government and appointment of a new Chancellor.

Partner, Katie Whitting, chairs a discussion with:

• Andreas Krautscheid, Senior Adviser, a former CDU Member of the Bundestag and Minister of State in North-Rhine Westphalia, and CEO of the German Banking Association.
• Markus Becker-Melching, Senior Adviser, former COO of the German Banking Association and member of the Executive Committee of the European Banking Federation.
• Sir Julian King, Specialist Partner and former EU Commissioner.