May 23, 2024

The Tariffs Keep on Coming, While Mexico is Stuck in the Middle

38 minutes

Episode 64 - "The Tariffs Keep on Coming, While Mexico is Stuck in the Middle"

Hosts: Ardian Mollabeqiri and Robert Skidmore

Guest: Lars Karlsson, Global Head of Trade and Customs Consulting at Maersk

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Episode Summary

Welcome to Episode 64 of Trade Splaining, the podcast that makes sense of international trade, business, and expat life without putting you to sleep—most of the time. In this episode, we dive into Mexico's strategic position in the ongoing US-China trade tensions, the rising trend of tariffs, and the surprising new role of TikTok in career development. Our special guest, Lars Karlsson, sheds light on navigating trade in an era of uncertainty.

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Key Segments

1. Introduction and Episode Overview

- Hosts: Ardian Mollabeqiri and Robert Skidmore

- Topics: Mexico's economic opportunities amid US-China tensions, the rise of tariffs, and TikTok’s role in career networking.

2. News Highlights

- Swiss Watchmaker's Success: Recep Recepi’s watch auctioned for $4.3 million.

- Listener Feedback: Germany's proposed price cap on kebabs.

- Tariffs Update: President Biden’s new tariffs on EVs, semiconductors, and solar cells targeting Chinese goods.

3. Main Discussion Points

- Mexico’s Economic Position:

- The impact of US-China trade disputes on Mexican manufacturing.

- Benefits from the USMCA trade agreement.

- Global Trade Conflicts:

- Turkey suspending trade with Israel due to the Gaza conflict.

- Security threats in the Red Sea causing shipping route changes and increased CO2 emissions.

4. Interview with Lars Karlsson

- Trade in an Uncertain World:

- Insights into global trade volatility.

- The importance of digitalization and resilience in supply chains.

- **Future Trends:**

- The impact of new trade compliance regulations.

- The balance between resilience and sustainability in trade.

5. Local News and Fun Segments

- Stolen Bike Recovery in Geneva: Innovative approaches to preventing bike theft.

- Migration Panic: Capturing female Asian wasps in Switzerland.

- Euro Mullet Competition: Details about the upcoming mullet competition in Valais.

6. Closing Remarks

- A reminder to subscribe, review, and follow the podcast on various platforms.

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Notable Quotes

- Lars Karlsson on Resilience: "We are getting more resilience. We are more accurate in what we do. And we are doing that in a more volatile and insecure situation for trade than ever before."

- Ardi on Trade Conflicts: "Trade is just sort of a passenger on the ship, and it's really not the one driving the car right?"

- Rob on Digitalization: "The digitalization of trade and the use of data in supply chains are accelerating, making it easier to handle new regulations and crises."

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