At the Lujiazui Financial forum in June, central bank (PBoC) Governor Pan Gongsheng gave a speech that we believe redefined Beijing's attitude toward RMB internationalization.

Since the policy was launched in 2009, RMB internationalization has been a struggle, with Beijing's commitment to maintaining capital controls making it difficult to claw market share from the dollar.

But Pan's comments suggest Beijing thinks things might be about to get easier – with global faith in the dollar starting to erode, countries and companies might soon start looking for viable alternatives.

• That could create an opportunity for the RMB – as long as China is ready to grab it.

In this week's podcast, Trivium Co-founder Andrew Polk and Dinny McMahon, Head of Markets Research, discuss the implications of Pan's comments, and the flurry of recent measures in support of RMB internationalization.

In this week’s Trivium China podcast, host Andrew Polk is joined by colleagues Ether Yin (Trivium’s head of policy research) and Joe Mazur (Trivium’s head of geopolitical research) – who all got together in Beijing. 

The three discuss a variety of topics including:

• China’s improving consumer data
• The current vibes in Beijing, as tourists flock in
• The latest on US-China trade talks
• The latest on EU-China trade talks
• How China issues played into the G7 meetings in Canada

Come for the macro-econ data, stay for the geopolitical hot takes!

In the latest episode of the Trivium China podcast, Trivium Co-founders Andrew Polk and Trey McArver discuss this week’s phone call between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump that appears to have gotten trade talks back on track, for now. 

The two discuss:

• The developments and misperceptions from both sides that almost derailed the Geneva truce over the past three weeks
• What we know about the Xi-Trump call, and what needs to happen next to keep things on track
• China’s perspective on its rare earth export controls – and how the slow-moving approval process is upending global manufacturing
• Potential paths forward to a lasting agreement around US-China trade
• The EU perspective on all this – and how US-China negotiations may leave Europe out in the cold

The upshot: US-China trade talks are currently in a much better place after the call than they were just a few days ago – but whether that will last is anyone’s guess. 

On this week’s Trivium China podcast, host Andrew Polk is joined by his colleagues Kendra Schaefer (Trivium’s head of tech policy) and Ether Yin (Trivium’s head of policy research) to talk through the latest tech controls from the US on China – and China’s likely reaction.

The three discuss:

• The Trump administration’s move to restrict sales of electronic design automation (EDA) software to China
• The EDA landscape in China and whether Chinese tech firms can step in to fill this void in the semiconductor supply chain
• A spate of other US restrictions on chemicals for semiconductors, butane and ethane, machine tools, and aviation equipment
• How the Chinese will react to these moves, and what they suggest about the Trump administration’s internal coordination on China (or lack thereof)
• What it all means for the 90-day trade truce – and the prospects for wider tech and trade negotiations

This stuff is pretty wild – and pretty depressing – but stick with us to the end, because we at least try to close on an upbeat note. 

In this week’s podcast, Trivium Co-founder Andrew Polk is joined by Trivium’s head of critical mineral and supply chain research, Cory Combs, to address the mounting confusion over whether and how China will ease off on its rare earth export curbs. 

The gents discuss:

• The implications behind China’s recent approval of a handful of rare earth magnet export licenses
• Whether China would consider removing rare earths from its dual-use export control list – spoiler alert: it won’t
• Reactions to supply chain disruptions from electronics companies, defense manufacturers, and the US national security realm
• China’s most recent threat to retaliate against companies that comply with US rules targeting Huawei chips via the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law
• The fragile nature of the 90-day US-China de-escalation, and what developments might derail the détente

Strap in, we go deep in the weeds in this one.

In this week’s pod, Trivium co-founders Andrew Polk, Trey McArver, and Ether Yin all sat down together in DC to discuss the recent de-escalation in the US-China trade war.

• They guys also drilled down on China’s move to grant licenses for critical mineral exports to the US, as part of the temporary trade reprieve.
• And finally, the gents discussed where Beijing was really focused this week – deepening ties with Latin America.

You definitely won’t want to miss this one!

It’s been a long time coming, but Beijing is finally ramping up economic support to counter the fallout from tariffs.

In this week’s podcast, Trivium Co-founder Andrew Polk and Dinny McMahon, Head of Markets Research, discuss the wave of monetary policy measures rolled out by financial regulators on Wednesday.

• The gents get into the nitty gritty of China’s financial system – with forays into PBoC relending facilities, provident fund mortgages, and insurance companies’ capital requirements – to explain just what officials hope to achieve.

They then round things off with a chat about the latest developments in the US-China trade war, and touch on China’s plan to double down on exports in the years ahead.

Enjoy!

In this week’s podcast, Trivium co-founders Andrew Polk and Trey McArver examine Beijing’s latest thinking on trade tensions with the US – as both sides settle in for a sustained confrontation. The two discuss:

• Whether Beijing has Trump’s number
• The shifting narrative on China’s ability to sustain hostilities
• Conflicting reports as to whether China and the US are actively negotiating
• China’s patient approach to stimulus – with the recent Politburo meeting opting not to provide additional domestic economic support
• The Politburo study session on AI – and how China is trying to position itself globally

As always, there’s lots to chew on!

In this week’s podcast, Trivium Co-founder Andrew Polk is joined again by Cory Combs, Trivium’s head of supply chain research, to unpack the latest US-China trade war twists. The two discuss:

• Friday’s pause in the tariff escalation
• China’s pointed efforts to signal it won’t escalate further
• Whether the pause has staying power
• Why a painful stalemate is still far better than some of the alternatives

The two then examine China’s latest export controls on rare earth elements.

• Cory breaks down the key dynamics, implications for companies, and what to expect next.

In this week’s Trivium China podcast, Trivium co-founders Andrew Polk and Trey McArver unpack the whirlwind tariff tit-for-tat between the US and China over the past week.

The two discuss:

• Whether we are now locked in an unstoppable escalatory spiral
• Possible off-ramps for de-escalation
• How each side is misreading the other
• The best- and worst-case scenarios from here
• China’s likely policy support for the domestic economy amid sky-high tariffs

Buckle up!